A: Yes, addiction is found in all demographics, it does not discriminate by race, age, gender, religion, or by how much money or how little money you have. Over the past few years, drug addiction and overdose deaths have skyrocketed in Michigan and beyond. Much of this has been linked to the over-prescribing of opioid pain killers and the lack of transparency of the dangers of these prescriptions by pharmaceutical companies. Once a user is hooked and cannot obtain the prescription many turn to street drugs which contributes to the rise in overdose deaths.

What do I do if I’m struggling with drug addiction?

More than ever before there are a tremendous number of resources and different avenues to receive support. The key is that you have to be ready and willing to receive help and admit that drugs have become a problem. There are hotlines open 24/7 operated by people in recovery, treatment centers for inpatient services, outpatient services for continued support, 12 Step meetings, therapy specific to addiction, family support groups, transitional living homes which help with structured and peer supported living, and more.

Should I be scared or embarrassed that this happened to me?

Being scared or embarrassed are natural and common feelings. No one wakes up one day and decides to become a drug addict. Some people get addicted through a prescription prescribed by a doctor, some start out as recreational users, and some people are predisposed genetically. How it happened really doesn’t make a difference. You don’t have to be scared or embarrassed; you should be proud that you have admitted you have a problem, that you want help, and that you want to live a better life.

Is recovery possible?

YES. Your recovery journey may not follow a straight path and you might have setbacks, but it is possible to keep addiction at bay.

I was born and raised in Grosse Pointe, I have an amazing family, I went to great schools, I attended church, and had all the love, support, and guidance that in theory would keep me away from drugs. Unfortunately, I tried drugs recreationally when I was young and loved the feeling it gave me, then I lost my father to cancer and my recreational use turned into regular use to try to cover up the pain from losing him. From there using took over my life and threatened to destroy it.

If you would have asked me five years ago what my future would look like, I would have sold myself extremely short. My recovery has been harder than I ever thought it would be, but it’s also been more valuable and rewarding than I ever could have imagined. On June 6, 2022, I celebrated six years clean from all drugs and alcohol and I couldn’t be happier. Recovery is possible.

Eddie Ahee III founded Alpha Recovery Homes whose mission is to provide a solution-based, safe, clean, and structured-living, peer-supported recovery home that is open to all avenues of recovery, to help guide and support those seeking a better way of life. Visit www.alpharecoveryhomes.com for more information.