The Fallout

In one of my DUI education groups I presented a concept of the aftermath of addiction. Much like the bombing in Oklahoma City or the attacks on September 11, the bomb or planes struck a specific location(s). That immediate location sustained incredible damage, but the aftermath was not isolated to that specific area. Housing developments, streets, shops, and other buildings nearby were devastated, even if they were simply struck with debris and not completely wiped out. Compare this to the aftermath of addiction. When a person is overcome by addiction, priorities are compromised and ultimately transformed. A helpless child may find that he or she is now on the back burner, second or third to the 'drug'. There is no classification of the drug, but simply something that MUST be acquired by the addict, at all cost. The destruction does not limit itself. It spreads. It spreads to family members, friends, colleagues, neighbors and community members, and even to strangers. A parent struggling with addiction may leave his or her spouse to be a single parent, to raise children without providing love, financial support, time, knowledge, and the list goes on. A parent struggling with addiction is a person bound. Until the bonds of the addiction can be broken, or at least until they can provide a little slack, the child will not be cared for, especially not in a way that is appropriate and acceptable. A majority of people in this world have siblings. It is reasonable to assume that when a person is addicted, their family, immediate or extended, will face difficulty, stress, and pain.
Imagine a bullseye, or a target. The center of this target, or the epicenter, as is termed for the center of destruction in a earthquake, is the most chaotically affected by addiction or any other form of misery. The epicenter is the individual. That person is affected, body, mind, spirit, everything. The first ring beyond the epicenter might consist of parents, children, spouse or partner, siblings, etc. These individuals are immediately affected by the addicts choices, and the consequences that come with his or her choices. The next ring might include more informal or infrequent contacts, those who have some interest in the welfare of the individual. Ultimately, there are people who are affected in a variety of ways, it is not limited to the addict. But the addict often fails to realize this. The idea that 'it is my body, my life, and I'll do what I want' is just one of several typical responses when an intervention is initially attempted by concerned family members. The addict is in denial, struggling with pride and unwilling to admit he or she is powerless and desperately needs help. This is not abnormal. It is important to support the addict and allow them to discover their helplessness and confront it. But without support from others, it is often impossible to overcome addiction.

cw