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Image by Dmytro Tolokonov
Writer's pictureRobyn Carter

Let’s talk about addictions and recovery.

The word "addiction" still carries significant stigma and negative connotations in our present day society. Discussions around addiction remain heavily taboo, leading to widespread misinformation that may only hinder one's chance at recovery. Society's conception of addiction is often rooted in discrimination and stereotypes and are often accompanied by an underlying sense of shame and disapproval when the topic is addressed. 

I strongly believe that we should not be afraid of the word addiction and shying away from discussions on the matter. As a society, it is essential that we allow space for individuals to open up and talk about their struggles in relation to addiction in order to help support their recovery journey.

This Friday, on September 20th, 2024, I had the opportunity to attend the annual local recovery breakfast in London. This is an event I have been attending every year since I was an undergraduate student at the University of Western Ontario. It was through attending such events that reinforced my passion for social work, especially those in which discussed taboo subjects like addiction, mental health, and recovery. In fact, attending the Recovery Breakfast inspired me to pursue further education at McMaster University, where I obtained a 2-year diploma in addiction education to enhance my expertise in this field.

During the Recovery Breakfast, I had the privilege of listening to three exceptional guest speakers who generously shared their experiences with mental health, addiction, and recovery. One of the speakers shared his personal struggles as an adopted Vietnamese male and the racism he faced growing up. His story deeply resonated with me, as I am also adopted from China into a Western family and faced similar challenges with bullying during my childhood. I appreciated the opportunity to hear about his journey to recovery and found it particularly impactful given my own experiences with adoption. Next, I had the opportunity to listen to a woman share her story of struggling with a sleeping pill addiction after losing her 15-year-old daughter to cancer. It was an incredibly emotional experience, but I'm thankful to hear that she has been successfully in recovery for several years after receiving both inpatient and outpatient support services. As a committed social worker, it is immensely gratifying to hear about the profound impact that community mental health and addiction services have had on her journey to recovery. Finally, I had the opportunity to listen to the story of a woman who has battled gambling addiction for most of her life. She described how, through our addiction and gambling treatment programs, she has managed to stay away from gambling for over a year now.

After participating in this event, I am compelled to acknowledge the courage and strength demonstrated by each guest speaker who took the stage to share their personal journeys of mental health, addiction, and recovery. By listening to the lived experiences of these individuals, we gain a deeper understanding of their resilience and inner strength, which defies societal norms and expectations. As a passionate advocate for mental health and addiction awareness, I strongly encourage community members to participate in local events that raise awareness about these issues. It's crucial for us to understand the impact of these challenges on our communities and work together to provide better support.



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