Maureen from Somerville, Mass.
I wish people understood that addiction is a disease and should be treated as such, that it can happen to anyone, that it is both chronic and fatal, that people with an addiction should not be shunned and separated from their loved ones, and that it is closely linked to mental illness and trauma. I would also like them to know that it can begin with a legal prescription from your doctor, or from making a choice to simply feel better, and that because there is not enough treatment available it is not as simple as wanting to get help. I wish people knew how difficult it is for an uninformed parent to learn about addiction and to learn what to do about it. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my thoughts.