In light of Recovery Week and International Overdose Awareness Day, marked on Aug. 31, I felt inclined to write about celebrating sobriety and recovery.
Take a moment to reflect on the people in your life. I bet you can think of at least one who’s suffered from substance addiction. Whether it’s drugs, alcohol or food, addiction isn’t picky and it takes no prisoners.
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After 35 trips around the sun, many people in my life have been affected by addiction. Many have even lost their lives.
From friends and acquaintances to siblings and children of friends, the disease of addiction is powerful and can be heartbreaking.
According to Dr. Gabor Maté, who spent years helping residents of Vancouver’s East Hastings St., people can be addicted to anything, even the good doctor himself.
In his book, “In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts,” Maté discusses his own vice: spending thousands of dollars a month on music. From old vinyl box sets to CDs, he can’t help himself. (It’s been a while since I read his book, and he worded that explanation far more whimsically).
Addiction can be a scary thing. From the addict pinching pennies to pay for the next fix to the family member spending sleepless nights worried about a loved one, addiction affects everyone.
In Canada, a total of 52,544 apparent opioid toxicity deaths were reported between January 2016 and December 2024. In 2024, 80 per cent of those deaths were in B.C., Alberta and Ontario.
Men accounted for 71 per cent of all deaths, and 28 per cent were between 30 and 39 years of age.
Of all apparent opioid toxicity deaths in 2024, 74 per cent involved fentanyl, a 42 per cent increase from 2016.
Eighty-four per cent of all deaths involved non-pharmaceutical drugs.
No matter how you look at it, those are scary numbers. People often look down on addicts, which is unfortunate. You don’t know what they’ve been through to get to where they’re at, and judging eyes do far less good than a smile.
I’ve mentioned my current sober state in recent columns because it’s something I’m proud of. Chels and I haven’t had a drink since August 2023, and both gave up the electric lettuce this year.
When it comes to alcohol, I know I’m better off without it. I have no problem openly saying I don’t have an off switch. One’s too many and 100 isn’t enough.
Chels and I often joke about what it would take for us to want to have a drink and still haven’t reached a conclusion.
In today’s society, sobriety seems to be more celebrated than ever before, which it should be.
Similar to losing weight to better one’s health, kicking an addiction can feel impossible to many. However, love and support from family, friends and peers help make the impossible feel possible.
From Lloydminster to bigger cities throughout the world, addiction is everywhere. It should be talked about, and those in need deserve the help being offered. We’re all human, after all.
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