An Open Letter About Truth Of Drug Addiction | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

An Open Letter About Truth Of Drug Addiction

Sometimes we think we understand but we really have no idea.

314
An Open Letter About Truth Of Drug Addiction
Pixabay

Drug addiction is just a choice, right? Yes, the initial dose was a choice, but after that, the brain depends on that drug and they lose control. STDs start with a choice, and so does constant tanning or smoking that leads to cancer. They're all just different diseases on the spectrum. But you still think it's just a choice, huh?

Tell that to the little girl that would have "I love you more" fights with her father. She woke up early every morning to the aroma of coffee and him sitting at the kitchen table either reading the newspaper or staring out of the window. They watched CSI and WWE matched with pizza and wings or TV dinners. She had summers filled with eating from the grill almost every night and swimming in the pool every day. At least once a week they rode their bikes to the nearby ice cream shop to get cheesy fries and ice cream. They always rode on the Harley, four-wheelers, and snowmobiles. She sat right by her dad's side riding around in his truck every day and went to work with him. She had to get something at every store they stopped at. He called her "his beautiful girl" and his "princess" more than her own name. Her father was her best friend.

Then everything changed. She didn't know what happened to him, it was like a flipped switch.

Early mornings turned into late nights and late afternoons. When she got back from school he'd still be sleeping due to having random people over during the night and the activities they would partake in. Eating out turned into scraping up money for food or putting together what they had left at the house. Summers turned into the lawn seldom mowed and the pool never being open. They didn't ride to the nearby ice cream shop anymore because he was always in pain and they didn't have the money for it. Later on, she found out his pain was withdrawals. They ended up selling the Harley, four wheelers, and snowmobiles to get the bills paid. Her father even sold his truck and stopped going to work. The only time they went to the store was so he could get more alcohol and get whatever food they could afford. Instead of him buying her things, she was lending him money that only got paid back half of the time.

One night he snapped and pushed his "beautiful girl" to the ground. That same night he repeatedly hit his "princess;" when she got free, she ran to the neighbor's house and had to stay there for the night. The next morning he came crying, he was sober and realized what he did wrong. Instead of supporting her, she was supporting him and his drug habit.

Her best friend; her father; turned into a stranger. He wasn't the same man she looked up to. She watched him go from a superhero to a villain.

It can completely change a person, but it's not a disease, right? Tell that to the little girl who watched as her father was no longer able to find happiness in the things they used to do together, and no longer could find it in her. She constantly wonders why her father doesn't love her and doesn't make an effort to be in her life anymore, but he'll make every effort to get his next hit.

Tell that to the little girl who's not so much of a little girl anymore. tell that to me. Because after watching that happen to someone you love, that's when you'd realize you couldn't be more wrong.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

179096
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

6270
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

451819
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

22924
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments