From the child of an addict

(The following is inspired by and somewhat a parody of the song "Sober" by KC makes music which I will link at the bottom and I dedicate this to everyone who has struggled with addiction. Love you all and stay strong.)

Let me speak on addiction, from the child of an addict. From someone who dealt with adult shit that should have never happened. Let me speak for my mother who was robbed, raped, and battered, but because she was an addict some would say her life never mattered? Where do you draw the line on the value of life? What do you do when it's your brother, your father, your daughter, or your wife? If they go and shoot up do they suddenly not mean shit to you? Did you ever stop and ponder what they might be going through? Mental illness is a big ass factor, it's not so much the high but more like the relief they're after.

I've never struggled with addiction, but I'm more than qualified to speak, I used to believe the same thing you do, that an addict was just weak. But then my mom died and that mindset did too, and now I shout from the rooftops to reach people like you. I shout from the rooftops to save people like her, because I no longer see the addict, I see someone's son or daughter.

A lot of these warriors felt pain you never felt. It wasn't their fault it was just the hand they were dealt.

"Oh I went through worse and I turned out fine so they should be too"

Excuse me, I'm sorry, but everyone's not you.

Don't try to sit there and compare your pain, because everyone's tolerance isn't quite the same. I know you say "well I never did drugs or drank", and I say that's great, I'm proud of you, but everyone's not you.

At the end of the day its not a matter of who's weak and who's strong, and trying to divide people like that is just wrong. Every one gets hurt, and everyone bleeds, but even the ones who fall into addiction have needs. Yeah yeah, I know, you might rather let them rot, but that's not what my Savior taught, no its really not. These people are hurting and they're going through hell and you just pass them on the street like "oh well". But what you don't understand is that it could be your kid someday. And I pray to Almighty God that will never be the case. But addiction isn't picky, it doesn't care who it consumes. It'll pick the rich men and the lower class too.

Its time to stop the stigma because the sick ones hide in shame. They try to find peace in the shadows and eventually lose their name. They hide their addiction and they fear discovery. They tell themselves "I don't matter. I'm not worth recovery". It's time to change their mind, and show them life is worth living, and provide compassion instead of the judgement we've been giving.

So let me speak on addiction, from the child of an addict, who's been there and done that, who's mindset changed because of a chance that my mom never had. Let me speak for the voiceless, for the ones who are too scared to speak. Because society doesn't see the person who's hurting, they only see an addict that's weak.

"Sober" - KC makes music