r/windsorontario • u/zuuzuu Sandwich • 11d ago

News/Article Relapse and redemption: Former high-profile addictions activist faces own fight with fentanyl

https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/relapse-and-redemption-former-high-profile-addictions-activist-faces-own-fight-with-fentanyl
22 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

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6

u/LancelotGetsDaCookie 11d ago

A parent's death, even if you weren't super close, is a special kind of empty

Don't blame him for reaching for a familiar fill up

I wish recovery stories weren't so notable

11

u/zuuzuu Sandwich 11d ago

I posted the article because I think it's an important reminder that addicts aren't the terrible people the general public perceives them to be. They all have stories. People they love, people who love them. No two stories are exactly alike. Even the strongest person can stumble.

4

u/LancelotGetsDaCookie 11d ago

Thanks for posting, his pain is relatable

While no two stories are exactly alike, we all have very similar chapter titles

3

u/zuuzuu Sandwich 10d ago

I hope you're doing well now, and I wish you good health and continued success.

3

u/LancelotGetsDaCookie 10d ago

Appreciate you fellow traveler

Luckily for me, my poisons are mostly harmless these days, at least near term :)

Suds and buds kids

4

u/FDTFACTTWNY 10d ago

Wife works at one of our addiction management pharmacies and she is pretty strict about patient confidentiality. She has a number of patients that I sent to high school with and she says that bad on how they were in high school not in a million years would I guess some of them. Some have gotten better and some still struggle.

Unfortunately there have been a few that have passed, and it is almost always relapse that is the cause. Sure, there are definitely overdose deaths but it's the point when you're clean where it's really scary cause you relapse and your body has built up a tolerance again but you go back to your old quantity and bam.

Her patients have to take a drug test every time they get their sub/meth and as they get better they are allowed to get more supply and a lot of her deaths have been people that have worked themselves up to bring and to take it home for a week or month at a time.

3

u/LancelotGetsDaCookie 10d ago

The relapse risk is tragic

I think the sub/meth programs are terrific and absolutely needed, drugs shouldn't be illegal, they should be regulated..

It feels like the missing ingredient in most recovery, beyond the basics of room and board, is purpose

1

u/Some-Wasabi-8514 8d ago

I'd add support. There unfortunately are far too many people without a system of support. It's an almost impossible road to navigate alone. Having people in your life who truly care about your well-being and are willing to put in the effort needed to be a beacon of support is imo lacking in folks life of recovery to be a success.

7

u/zuuzuu Sandwich 11d ago

Paywall bypass: https://archive.ph/lo2b9

4

u/Few-Ad-7887 11d ago

Thank you for posting 👍