It’s so common these days, to be walking down the street or in the store, and to be confronted with someone who “just needs some help.” Commonplace in many small towns as well as in the big cities, opiate addicts beg, borrow, and steal to get their next dose. This isn’t to say that all addicts are out panhandling or that they are all liars or thieves—most opiate addicts start off just like me or you—as normal people, with a semi-good background, living life to its fullest. But then addiction takes over.
Most won’t initially call themselves “addicts.” They won’t tell you that they really need the money for drugs—and it’s not because they WANT to lie. It’s because they know that you won’t help if you know it’s fueling their addiction and they REALLY need the help right now.
Opiate addiction affects people from all walks of life.
Opiate addiction is ruining lives—and there’s a good chance it’s either a part of your life, or a part of the life of someone directly related to you. It’s impossible to minimize the reality that opiate addiction affects more than 2 million Americans—and this number is growing. That’s just one of the many hard to swallow truths about this terrible disease.
The severity of this addiction simply cannot be stressed enough. It affects men and women, teens and the elderly, the upper class, middle class and the poor, those who have a great job and those who are jobless, the wealthy and the homeless, the priests, pastors and doctors, as well as the laymen and the students.
It doesn’t matter who you are, where you are, or what your abilities are—opiate addiction is a reality in your life (If you’re not addicted, and you don’t believe that this addiction is affecting your life, just take a walk or drive in the car to the nearest shopping plaza or street corner and look around. This is your city or town, these are your neighbors, and many of them ARE suffering from addiction.).
Get Help Now
If you’re just now realizing that you, or someone you care deeply about, is addicted to an opiate, call our helpline toll-free at 800-442-6158 Who Answers? to speak with a caring advisor who can assist you in getting treatment. Don’t continue on in the clouds thinking that this addiction isn’t very much a part of your life—get the help that you need, or find the treatment that your loved one needs today.
