Because of the negative addiction stigma, many addicts are still embarrassed or scared to talk about their illness. This is despite continuous scientific evidence that addiction is a brain disease. Science makes clear that addiction is not a choice, a lack of willpower or a character flaw. Hopefully, the more that people talk about their disease of addiction, the more it will challenge the addiction stigma and make obvious that addiction shows no discrimination. It can effect anyone, regardless of socioeconomic class, ethnicity, age or gender.
A good example of this: Col. Edwin Eugene “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr. Heard of him? Probably you have. He played a central role in one of the greatest accomplishments in human history: the Apollo 11 space mission. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin was the second man to walk on the moon. It made him one of the most famous people on our planet with countless children aspiring to be just like “Buzz.” Even before he changed the course of mankind, Col. Aldrin was considered an overachiever. He turned down a full scholarship to M.I.T. to attend West Point, where he graduated third in his class with a B.S. in mechanical engineering. He joined the Air Force and was a decorated fighter pilot in the Korean War. And to this day, he is one of only twelve or so people to succeed at the near impossible feat of walking on the face of the moon. However, few people know the rest of the American hero’s story. He released a memoir in 2009 titled, “Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home from the Moon.” In it, he recounts his long-time struggle with alcoholism and depression. In an attempt to challenge the addiction stigma, he is quoted as saying, “From the pinnacle of Apollo, my greatest challenge became the human one — overcoming alcoholism and living beyond depression — a challenge that required more courage and determination than going to the moon.”
The addiction stigma is so pervasive in society that we rarely think of a successful business person, doctor, lawyer, or astronaut as an addict. Yet these people are just as likely to suffer from the disease of addiction as any other. The addiction stigma continues to perpetuate a false stereotype of what an addict is. In doing so, the addiction stigma reinforces behavior of stress, fear, denial and secrecy, all of which exacerbate the problem and stand in the way of people getting help. In fact, one of the main reasons people report for not seeking treatment is the negative addiction stigma.
Col. Aldrin, and many like him, are testimony to the fact that the disease of addiction can strike anyone, regardless of how strong, successful, intelligent or willful. It is stories like his that will hopefully help change the negative addiction stigma, and encourage those who need help to seek it. Because the good news is, addiction is a treatable disease. People who get help are able to live wonderful, fulfilling lives in long-term recovery.
