I remember clearly the first, and only, time I took the invitation to leave a class because of a topic being discussed. It was a cold, mid-November day. A little less than halfway through my final quarter of seventh grade Health, and our usually bubbly teacher Mrs. Wilson had brought up a more serious topic. “...Addiction.” Mrs. Wilson expressed, a hint of hesitation in her voice. That would be our next topic. The class that was normally high in energy and roaring with laughter, anytime sex was mentioned, was uncharacteristically quiet. I, myself, felt a sense of unease. I came to school to distract myself from my problematic home-life, now it was being forced in front of my face! The word “ADDICTION” written menacingly on the whiteboard, …show more content…
My stomach did flips, I was sure I was going to be sick. My mind had put me back into my tiny eight-year old body, back to a night I had tried so hard to erase. One that gave the word “addiction” too much power over me. That night was unusually warm for early November. I remember sleeping in my parents bed after coming in crying about a nightmare, still young enough to do so. There was something heavy about the air, almost like a warning as to what was to come. The bedroom door opened a little after midnight. My eldest brother, Elliot, stood there, he spoke to my parents in a hushed tone. “Mom, it’s Ron, he’s not breathing.” He spoke anxiously, “I called 911, they’re on their way.” I laid silent, pretending to sleep as I took in what was happening. What does he mean “not breathing?” I thought, I had just spoken to him. My parents quickly made their way next door, where my two eldest brothers, Ron and Elliot, had shared an apartment. I was left alone, in the dark, both physically and mentally. Both the lights and the sirens of the approaching ambulance got louder, reflecting my increasing sense of panic. I couldn’t breathe, as if someone was wrapping their hands around my …show more content…
“It’s nothing, it’s okay…” She said in a shaky voice. Nothing was something, and it definitely wasn’t okay. Yet, I did not push her.
Within minutes, I was alone again. The only sound keeping me company was the agonizing screams of my mother as she pleaded with someone, something, anything, for my brother. The mixture of the bright lights and the ear-piercing cries of a mother in pain were enough to make someone sick. I was traumatized.
Only after the paramedics revived my brother and took him, along with my father, to the hospital did the wailing stop. It was around two in the morning when I was told what had happened. My second oldest brother, Ron, had overdosed on heroin. I also learned that this was not the first time, and it probably wouldn’t be the last. This concept was hard for my young, eight-year old self to comprehend, but at the age of eighteen, I have become numb to it.
Once my family had given the news to me, a seal seemed to be broken. The next ten years of my life were plagued by this monster my brother had become. We fought an chance we had, I was disgusted with him. He had ruined the perfect illusion I had of my family, he had only given us pain. He had only caused me
Neil Postman, in his 1985 book “Amusing Ourselves to Death” asserted that Aldous Huxley’s worry, we are becoming a passive and trivial society controlled by what we love, is coming true. Now, more than ever, these fears are becoming reality. Our society’s addiction to drugs and the stigma against the communication of emotions are causing us to fall down the slippery slope that is leading to an oppressive society similar to that of the one depicted Huxley’s Brave New World. ****
The window slowly creaked open, a soft wind blew into the small room. The sound of light breathing came from under the sheets were a young boy slept, oblivious to the happenings that night. Soft footsteps hit the floor, the smell of old toys and new bed sheets wafted out of the room, hitting two men crouched down by the bed. A hand reached up, gingerly touching the boy.
David Sheff’s memoir, Beautiful Boy, revolves around addiction, the people affected by addiction, and the results of addiction. When we think of the word addiction, we usually associate it with drugs or alcohol. By definition, addiction is an unusually great interest in something or a need to do or have something (“Addiction”). All throughout the memoir, we are forced to decide if David Sheff is a worried father who is fearful that his son, Nic Sheff’s, addiction will kill him or if he is addicted to his son’s addiction. Although many parents would be worried that their son is an addict, David Sheff goes above and beyond to become involved in his son’s life and relationship with methamphetamine, making him an addict to his son’s addiction.
Carl Rogers stated, “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change (see http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/carl_rogers.html). Many modern approaches to addiction recovery utilize a dialectical model to examine the change process. Third wave behavioral therapies such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), along with mindfulness meditation (MM), and the 12 Step Recovery model of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) use a dialectic based on acceptance of what is and change to what can be. These modern methods make use of the practices of Buddhism that may be effective treatments for addiction recovery. Moreover, when regarding addiction as a form of attachment as defined by the Buddha, the possibility of change comes as a concession to suffering.
Addiction controls people in many ways. Some addictions can even lead to death if not stopped early on. Addiction to any kind of substance or drug is not an easy thing to quit. It is hard to quit because it is not physically hard but also mentally hard to end an addiction. Addiction controls people by making them lose control of their actions and cravings. Also addiction controls people by changing their circadian rhythms which make it hard to stay away from what they are addicted to.
In the beginning, a young boy experienced a life full of confusion as he witnessed the suffering that his owner had brought upon his fellow brothers
Addiction to alcohol, drugs, and all other mind-altering substances has gripped society and torn families apart for as long as these substances have been around. As early as the 1700’s, certain doctors realized how alcoholism was affecting people and suggested alcoholism as a disease. This started a centuries long dispute as to whether addiction and alcoholism was a moral issue or a disease. Many people today believe that it is possible to just stop using mind-altering substances without any treatment and support. Many under privileged alcoholics and addicts find it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get proper treatment, and they end up in jails, institutions, or unfortunately, dead.
Haley Edwards Ms. Parrott English IIH 10 May 2024 Symbols throughout Beautiful Boy In 2022, the American Addiction Centers reported that “46.8 million (16.7%) Americans (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in the past year.” Substance abuse is not a new issue. In America, the issue has been plaguing the nation for decades.
Addiction, Is it just an issue or is it one’s choice? Although no one chooses to walk around in their life and decides if he or she has or wants an addiction. An addiction is a “condition of being addicted to a particular substance” (Peele, 2016). One can be addicted to nicotine, drugs, alcohol, gambling, food, and even shopping if it has an impact on their everyday life. Consequently, some people with an addiction may reach a point in their life where it can turn harmful, therefore, people need to look for assistance. Even so, people still neglect to talk about addictions because people are ashamed, or in denial, and it is probably not one’s choice of topics that is brought up at your breakfast table, or you may never have confronted anyone before. Still, addiction is all around us, and most people today still do not understand or have misconceptions about addictions because addiction is a disease, and studies have indicated that addictions are a physical defect in the brain, thus, making it hard for some people to give up their addictions on their own.
I would like to nominate Jacobi IV’s “The Curse Of The Hourglass”. As the director of this music video alongside my production company Komatik Films, we were able to create a captivating visual that embodies the art of symbolism and storytelling. Up and coming Canadian artist Jacobi IV dropped his innovative debut album “SADE HOUSE" on Apple Music, Google Play and Spotify, which explores themes of love, fame, and understanding self. " The Curse Of The Hourglass” served as his first visual piece off the album "The Curse of the Hour Glass" is a visual representation of the artist's quest for the truth .
In the United States today, drug use, substance abuse, and addiction are consistently growing dilemmas! At a young age we are asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Answers vary from doctor, police officer, astronaut, etc.; it is hard to image an individual saying, “I want to be addicted to drugs.” However, society witness’s individuals tumbling into drug addiction or other forms of addiction daily. This, in consequence, can cripple and prevent any person from accomplishing their childhood dreams. Addiction has many forms; this is evident in Requiem for a Dream, Darren Aronofsky’s critically renowned film, centered on the effects of drug use and misuse. The film conveys how quickly an individual can transition from recreational use to a drug addictive lifestyle. The film also addresses the pressing question, “Are legal and illegal drugs equivalent in terms of addiction?” Contrary to popular belief, drug dependence is not at all exclusive to illicit drugs and the “addicts” which confide in them. This is conveyed in the film through the evolution of Sara Goldfarb’s (Ellen Burstyn) character. A widowed mother, who becomes physiologically consumed on diet pills in hopes to be in peak condition when appearing on a game show. This molds another compelling topic: to what degree do drugs alter an individual’s physical
When people hear the word addiction, most people picture an alcoholic that spends hours a night at the bar, or meth addict that sleeps in the streets and prostitutes herself out to obtain money for another hit, but what various people refuse to realize is that addiction has become an epidemic in the United States. Addiction is everywhere from the UPS man that takes smoke breaks every few delivery’s, to your best friend 's dad whose appears to have everything put together but spends his evenings at the casino. In my opinion, it 's essential to share your story, I’m restless to tell you experience with addiction.
Suddenly I awake at the noise of sirens and people yelling my name. Where am I? Those words radiate out my thoughts but never touching my lips. Panic engulfs me, but I am restricted to the stretcher. “Are you ok?” said the paramedic. I am dazed, confused, and barely aware of my surroundings. Again “Yes, I am fine” races from my thoughts down to my mouth, but nothing was heard. Then, there was darkness.
Drug addiction is a very big problem in today’s society. Many people have had their lives ruined due to drug addiction. The people that use the drugs don’t even realize that they have an addiction. They continue to use the drug not even realizing that their whole world is crashing down around them. Drug addicts normally lose their family and friends due to drug addiction.
The reckless driver hit us straight on, then “Bang!” a loud noise resonated through the air, and abruptly my body flew out and hit the pavement of the road. Everything around me was simply a white haze for a few seconds after the impact. My body felt extremely heavy and the sharp pain throbbed throughout my face and body. Lying there on the rough asphalt, I faintly heard my mom and Carrie call out to me, “Sydney! Sydney! Are you okay? Answer me! Sydney!” I wanted I speak up and answer them, nonetheless, it was useless, my voice just wouldn’t make a sound. The desperation in Carrie’s and my mom’s voices reverberated to me across from where I was lying. My mom frantically ran up to my side and hugged me tightly in her arms. Blood was squirting out of her pinky, where the top of her finger had been severed. The places where my mom’s tears fell, stung my wounds, nevertheless, it was nothing compared to each little movements that caused the pains to electrify through my body severely. Every second was hell, the pain was just utterly agonizing and tormenting. Whether it was due to the pain or the exhaustion my body suffered, my mind slowly drifted off and I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer. As my eyes gradually closed, the blazing siren seemed to have grown louder little by