As some people know, I am what I used to refer to as a recovering alcoholic. These days I prefer to say I’m in recovery from an alcohol use disorder. I realize it’s less catchy, but it emphasizes the fact that I am more than just my addiction. We call this “person-first language”. Studies have shown repeatedly that words like “alcoholic” and “addict” contribute to the stigmatization of people with these issues.  To quote the CAPSA website,, 

Stigma is best understood as a deeply held set of false beliefs about a group of people with at least one attribute in common. This allows the judgement, oppression and discrimination of those people to take place. This is done by either overt actions or silent complicity with those actions.

With this in mind, I very much support the work of CAPSA, The Community Addiction Peer Support Association. We envision a world where all individuals have access to the informed services and supports in seeking help for their substance use health without stigma or discrimination.

Here’s a video put together by CAPSA on the neuroscience of addiction. 

I got better.

I volunteer regularly at The Shepherds Of Good Hope. Shepherds of Good Hope fosters hope and reduces harm in Ottawa by supporting people experiencing homelessness and vulnerable adults in our community through specialized services, programs and partnerships. If you have time and/or money to spare, it is a very good cause.

I’m also a big fan of Refuge Recovery. Refuge Recovery is a practice, a process, a set of tools, a treatment, and a path to healing addiction and the suffering caused by addiction, based on the principles of Buddhism. One can find frequent online meetings at the link above.