Who are the Sunshine Coast addicted? Our sisters/brothers/uncles/aunties/mothers/fathers/children.Us.
Using substances when in pain to try and feel 'better.'
Theunderlying issues are never dealt with, sothe addict lives in a circle: pain-intoxication-anger-confusion-pain.Family and loved ones are estranged,abused mentally and/or physically.Happens in manyfamilieswho don't admit to having an addict in the family. Perfectly normalto drink/drugtoo much and lash out.Let's keep it a secret. Maybe it won't happen next time. Sound familiar? Take a look in the mirror.
So whena local addictactually summons the courage to say "I need help with this illness!" (applause here) and reaches out for residential treatment,what do they find on theSunshine Coast? Absolutely nothing.Nope, we can't treat our family membershere! Think of the property values, crime risk, vulnerability of children, think of anything but offeringhope and healing.Ship 'em out. Where? Anywhere - someone else's community! Let them deal with it. Let's play it safe tillour addictsare 'fixed.'Maybe then they can come back to the Coast for transitioninto our community.What? Not even then?
OK, let'soffer nothing, and continue to livewith active addicts in our doctors',lawyers', and government offices.Untreated street people, students, teachers, police officers, business owners, who make important decisions in our lives while under the influence. Who just might riskall for the next substance. Feel safer?
Living in fear isan illness, too.Slammed shut hearts and minds,buried heads in the sand, is not the image of health.We need treatment. Todiscover how we slid into living in fear, and fight our way outto becomehumans with open hearts that offer a hand up.It's time to heal together, folks.
Carole Rubin
Garden Bay
