| I am one of the many who has been affected by | | | | ensuing crossfire. More often than not, it is the |
| a loved one who suffered from substance abuse | | | | people who love them that bear the brunt of a |
| disorder, and like most people around people who | | | | substance abuser's violent mood swings. It is they |
| abuse substances, I was blissfully unaware for a | | | | who are affected by the financial woes that are |
| very long time. I learned of it in the most horrible | | | | caused by the mis-allocated funds caused by their |
| way possible - he had overdosed, and the entire | | | | need to feed their addiction. They are the ones |
| event was followed by months of him in detox | | | | who would have to deal with the news of their |
| and rehabilitation, none of us being able to see him | | | | loved one being arrested for one reason or |
| because, at the time, we had been too young. | | | | another, all ultimately drug-related. And, if they |
| When we asked him, years later, what had driven | | | | were less lucky than I, they would be the ones |
| him to it, his answer was a simple: "It was too | | | | who would be burying a beloved father or |
| much, my life. I was used to too much. And then | | | | mother, child or relative, friend or lover. |
| all of a sudden, it was not enough. So I tried | | | | Substance abuse may sound cool. It may mean |
| taking too much, and you know what happened." | | | | that certain people may hang out with you. It |
| Billions of people are affected by substance abuse | | | | may even mean that you wouldn't have to deal |
| disorder all over the world - not all of them may | | | | with the bad things that are happening in your life. |
| be the ones abusing the substances, but having | | | | But it will never be safe, and it will never be fair - |
| loved ones who suffer from substance abuse | | | | not for you, and not to those who love you. |
| disorder would most certainly hit them in the | | | | |