Why is it Taboo to call someone an Addict?

We Need to Change the Way We Look at Addiction

Society’s collective relationship with addiction is complicated, to say the least. Obviously, not everyone has the same opinion or perspective on the matter, but you can get a general consensus based on the ideas that pop up more often than others.

Some say that addiction is a mental health issue, others say it’s a choice. Some treat those going through addiction with understanding and patience, and others see it as something we should actively discourage and treat addiction as a weakness.

So, alright, we get it, everyone’s fighting. But, who’s in the right? Well, as is the case with anything fun and compelling, it’s complicated. Our beliefs are dictated by our experiences more often than not, and if you were raised thinking that addiction is a choice that makes people weaker or less than, that’s your “truth”.

However, no matter your belief, there is an absolute truth in the conversation that can’t be overlooked: the way we view addiction is flawed. It’s not a small thing that affects only the weak, anyone can get addicted, and that’s a big problem. It can be so easy for anyone who’s never faced addiction to believe it’s easily beaten. However, it takes time and help. Heck, those very same people may be addicted to things and just not know it. Food, sugar, technology, there are so many addictive aspects of life that are excessively used, and it’s just normalized!

So, with that being said, it’s time for a new mindset when it comes to addiction.

Why is it Taboo to call someone an Addict?

Addicts Are Human Too

A strange phenomenon in culture today is to see someone down on their luck and change your demeanor around them. Some people become fearful around suspected addicts or downright hateful. In a study conducted by John Hopkins university, out of nearly one thousand participants, 88% said they would be uncomfortable working with a suspected addict. Roughly thirty percent of people believe drug addiction recovery is impossible, and often portray the reason as a lack of desire to get better. The lead researcher added to this when discussing the disconnect between the acceptability of mental illness and general addiction, saying:

“In recent years, it has become more socially acceptable to talk publicly about one’s struggles with mental illness. But with addiction, the feeling is that the addict is a bad or weak person, especially because much drug use is illegal.”

This reveals the strange dehumanization that’s become normalized when it comes to the less fortunate. No one thinks it’s possible to get help or recover from these vices, and so addicts are generally looked down upon. With this mindset, they give up hope for addicts and essentially sever any possible stability in support groups.

Rather than refer them to places to get help, or help them out themselves, they instead try to think of ways to keep that addict away from fragile aspects of their personal lives. So, then there’s a lack of a relationship there, and it’s easier to see the person as just their addiction. The easiest example of this is food addiction.

There are shows and movies about people who weigh much more than your average Joe, and they’re just gawked at and made fun of by audiences. The very real truth of the matter is that these people are still human and deserve a chance to get better. An addiction with food is as serious as one with drugs or alcohol but is often treated as a flaw in the person rather than a fixable issue. Sufferers get to that point due to a perceived solution in an unhealthy coping mechanism, and this is a lot more common than one would think.

There are so many aspects of daily life that can be overwhelming, and eating when anxious is a habit that around a third of the people in the entire nation utilize. This eating disorder could then lead to more stress, discomfort, and possibly body dysmorphia, only making the matter worse. This is the sort of behavior that, again, is often ridiculed and mocked, but is astoundingly common and should be taken seriously.

Why is it Taboo to call someone an Addict?

It’s Not A Bad Thing To Get Help

So, with that, when it comes to addiction, often it’s important to emphasize that it’s not a hopeless fight, there are solutions, and one of the best out there is Sober on Demand and The Addictions Coach Cali Estes.

Cali, for all intents and purposes, is the go-to solution in all things addiction recovery. Food addiction? She covers it. Alcohol? Covered. Drugs? Covered. She’s worked with names big and small, her team’s available online and in person, and each member is certified, trained, and sober in their area for at least five years.
Her services are flexible, offering a concierge for in-home detoxing, retreats, coaching, therapy, companions – if you need it, she’s got it. It’s not like your traditional treatment plan, it’s refreshing! Cali is a brilliant source and it’s impossible to overstate just how vital it can be to reach out.

The best part is, that she goes against the norm with revolutionary ideas and approaches, treating addiction as an unhealthy solution to a problem rather than some unbeatable force. They address the why behind your issues and solve them, and it just works! It’s like the difference between getting help from someone who doesn’t know you specifically versus someone who goes out of their way to know you. It’s individual-focused, rewards the client first and foremost, and leaves both parties feeling satisfied at the end of the day.

The most important takeaway is that while it’s hard to relate to someone with an addiction if you haven’t been in their shoes, the least you can do is be patient. People struggle and they need help, and that doesn’t make them any weaker or less of a person! They might just need some help! Addiction isn’t something worth pointing at, it’s worth addressing and anyone can fall into it and get out of it. You’ve just got to point them in the right direction.