12/25/2025
๐๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐๐ปโ๐ ๐น๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ผ๐๐๐ฝ๐ฒ.
It is easy to picture a stranger.
A criminal.
Someone far removed from your life.
But addiction usually looks familiar.
It looks like a mother of three quietly struggling with opioids.
A son whose weekend drinking slowly crossed a line.
A person who still shows up, still loves their family, still tries.
These are not outsiders.
They are our people.
Addiction is not a distant problem that happens somewhere else.
It lives in our homes, our neighborhoods, our circles.
And that truth is uncomfortable.
Because it means the person struggling could be someone you love.
Someone you grew up with.
Someone sitting across from you at the dinner table.
Let's change the lens.
These are not labels.
They are humans with stories, families, and futures that still matter.
If this feels close to home, that makes sense.
Addiction does not discriminate, and compassion should not either.
The way we respond can either deepen shame or open a door to healing.
Who helped you see addiction differently? Share below. Your perspective might be exactly what someone else needs today.