DRUG, ALCOHOL ADDICTS HAVE DISEASE OF MIND

I am writing about the stereotyping of drug addicts and alcoholics. Many
people, including doctors, don't want anything to do with drug addicts or
alcoholics. They think they are evil and they just want to hurt themselves
or other people. That is not true. Drug addicts and alcoholics are just
plain old people just like you and me. They have just fallen into a disease
of the mind.

Their disease tells them that the body needs the drug or alcohol to
function normally. When the mind tells the person, they will do anything to
get what the mind tells them to get. Whether it is cocaine, vodka, or
heroin. It can be anything. Now, when the drug addict picks up that drug or
the alcoholic picks up that drink they have the choice of taking it. But
when they take it, they will lose control of their mind and their body. The
mind takes over.

There are a few places that drug addicts and alcoholics can go for help.
They suffer from the same disease, addiction. They must get treatment from
different places because they are dealing with a different form of
addiction. Addiction can be with food, work, pleasure, or anything that
will take place of what you have to do. Drug addicts can go to NA or
Narcotics Anonymous. Alcoholics can go to AA or Alcohol Anonymous. They use
basically the same program for both.

I hope this letter gives you a better understanding of drug addicts and
alcoholics.

Chris Menard,

Northside High