ADDICTION CAN HAPPEN TO ANY OF US

I felt compelled to address the recent and necessary discussion surrounding
drug use in St. Albert.

People all too often refuse to acknowledge that the only thing that
separates them from someone with an addiction can be as simple as a bad
decision or some other uncontrollable life circumstance. Experiences affect
self-esteem and perception and there is no way to definitively assert
exactly why or how they will affect certain people in such disastrous ways.

People with addictions come from all sorts of families, all sorts of
situations and all sorts of backgrounds. No human is immune to heroin or
speed. People start using for a variety of reasons, some consensual, some
not. We are unable to fully understand why certain individuals and not
others are plagued with an addiction.

We have all made decisions that we may have later regretted or viewed as
irresponsible or irrational or uncharacteristic of ourselves, but it's
those decisions and other changing events that draw the thin line between
those who have fallen victim to emotional and physical addictions and those
who haven't.

I often wonder if those who are so quick to judge victims of addictions
have ever considered that they too could have been or could become an
addict with one decision or unforeseeable event.

Furthermore, I hope that when people are discussing addictions of youths
specifically, that they remember that the culpability of minors is reduced
and sometimes non-existent under the law. This simple notion of not being
able to fully consent to something should be kept in mind when quickly
deeming individuals as "bad kids"" and not as people in need.

I just really hope that people will challenge themselves to realize that
they are not so different from a person in rehab or on the street or in
some other form of need. I hope that this understanding will help garner
the support of the larger community to provide further support for families
affected by addictions.

It's about time people started supporting fellow community members and
realize how valuable their support can be.

Sarah Laing

St. Albert