Drug Addiction Stories & Info

In May of 2010, the much loved and widely acclaimed writer and storyteller Robert Munsch admitted to having had a problem with alcohol and cocaine – and to being 4 months clean.

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Munsch is unusual in that most people with drug addictions begin at an early age – Munsch was over 50 when he first took a serious interest in the misuse of alcohol and cocaine.

Now aged over 60,  it is a big step for Munsch to admit to drug taking. Parents have for decades read his tales as bedtime stories to their children, and for some it has come as shock.

It seems that it is the parents as much as the children who need mystical fairy tales to escape into from the mundane and routine chores, that include a fantasy of the author as they imagine them to be.

Perhaps we have need to see prominent people and celebrities in the community who are without fault or failing, a need for heroes in a world increasingly compromised in its values.

It is easy to feel outraged upon discovering that our self appointed heroes, in fact have feet of clay, with much the same feelings and failings as any one of us.

 The ancient philosopher Seneca said – if you would judge, first understand.

If we wish to make moral judgment about the behavior of others, then it is the whole person, their life experience that we must first understand.

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 When columnist Judith Timson first heard about Munsch’s addictions, she say that her heart sank, yet outrage turned to acceptance with reflection about Munsch as a whole person, his contribution to children’s literature not diminished by his inner demons.

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 People can find out more, and begin to understand, the man behind the public face of Robert Munsch by visiting his website.

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Munsch, an American by birth, adopted Canada as his homeland and, made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1999, has been inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame. Munsch’s manic energy and enthusiasm for his craft have brought much delight to both children and adults for more than three  decades.

 The admissions that Munsch has made about what he declares to be foolish mistakes, in relation to alcohol drinking and using cocaine have found respect.

Now in recovery Munsch maintains his professional connections, family bonds and friendships – ultimately, there is honesty, and an acceptance by Munsch that he took a wrong road, that his use of alcohol and cocaine was detrimental, and had to stop.

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People who think that they are in too deep with alcohol or drug use, that they are unable to stop sometimes fail to seek treatment because they are fearful of being exposed, found out, and possibly abandoned both professionally and personally as a result.

 Sometimes the treatments available for alcohol and drug addiction seem to offer little in the way of comfort, don’t seem to provide much respite.

It might be that you can give up drug use, but will be in recovery, and at risk of possible relapse for the rest of your life.

 It is a major step in life when a person confronts his pain and admits to substance abuse and addiction. It is a major decision as to what form of detox and drug rehab you will choose to assist you with recovery.

In making a judgment as to what kind of treatment offers the best opportunity for full recovery from addiction, people are better off with programs that treat the whole person, that don’t just medicate symptoms.

In Canada, comprehensive alcohol and drug recovery centers provide residential rehab that leads to complete and permanent recovery from substance abuse and addictions.

 Comprehensive drug rehab centers understand the nature and causes of drug addiction, and that the causes of drug abuse are very much related to the personality style and the life experience of the user.  No one comes to drug use except they are looking for a solution, attempting to self medicate, if you like, for problems that they have in their life.

 It is easy to be judgmental, write a person completely off, when you get to hear they do drugs. In fact many addicts themselves think that they should be written off, for having made the choice to do drugs.

Using drugs puts us in a sort of defensive shell where we don’t have to deal with reality. Drug use is damaging and limiting of our options. But we are scared to break out of the shell, because we fear the emotional pain of our life, and the pain of drug withdrawal.

Comprehensive addiction recovery programs help you to fully detox and begin to understand more about yourself and the reasons why you do drugs. The more you understand about the role of drugs in your life, the more empowered you feel about being able to give up using drugs and all the negativity in your life that makes you want to use them.

Most drug programs say they don’t know the reasons for drug addiction, and happily give you another shot of maintenance medication.

At comprehensive rehab centers the more you learn about yourself and the reasons why you have chosen to use drugs – the quicker you will get to the stage of complete recovery from drug use and all addictive ways.

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People who truly want to become drug free and independant,

first need to do as Robert Munsch did, and admit to an addiction,

admit to having made a mistake –

and then use each new day to progess towards complete addiction recovery.

Comprehensive addiction recovery programs understand addiction – and offer drug free, natural treatments that lead to complete addiction recovery.

As I sat in the group session, I felt for the first time like I was not alone. I saw others, men and women, who had been where I was. Sure, we have come a long way here in America and women are allowed to go to war for the country they love, but still, it is hard and with several of my friends having died over there, plus being the only girl in my group of friends who had gone the military route, I felt alone as Memorial Day approached.

That may be why it was so easy to just go along with my friends a year ago when they talked me into going to the party and why I accepted the powder that cute guy gave me. The chance to forget for a few hours what perhaps no one in the room had been through? I was all for that!

But that night started a spiral of addiction to cocaine. My family soon noticed the difference but were unsure if it was related to my service or what. I didn’t have the heart to tell them it was a little of both. I couldn’t sleep without seeing my friends’ faces, the ones that died in Iraq. I couldn’t sleep without being back over there. Now, the craving for forgetfulness was marred by the craving for cocaine.

Eventually, my family figured it out and my parents approached me. My dad had never been in the military because of his back and both my parents were only children. With three daughters, I was the oldest and the one who went into the Army and then to war. Still, my heroes are most assuredly my parents as both had a discussion with me one night with my sisters, some friends, an uncle of my mom’s who had served in the military and an intervention counselor.

This Memorial Day is one I can now look upon with strength because I know that my survivor’s guilt is a common feeling. I know that having others to talk to who have been there, even if it means a 3 hour drive for my family, is worth it in order, as they say, to “get the old me back”.

It still kind of makes me nervous when someone who knows I was in the Army says thank you to me. I still think the real heroes died over there. But I am learning to deal with the nightmares without turning to cocaine. I am learning to pause and take a breath without worrying that I don’t have time to think because a bomb could go off. I am learning to see children here and realize that they are innocent and lucky just as I am lucky to live in this country. And every now and then, when I am able to get to a meeting and stop the urge for cocaine, I can almost hear my combat buddies who died whispering “Good Soldier” to me as I get through another day.

I looked up as I was helping at the Food Bank and saw him. His face lit up in a big smile and he came over and hugged me, saying “Hi, Sis.” I was so happy to see him. Once a month, just like clockwork, my brother David was there with his friends seeking some groceries. Once a month was all I saw him. 

David is a drug addict. He has been on meth and cocaine off and on for nearly 30 years and while he has been in rehab several times, he seems to backslide as soon as he gets out. The drugs have destroyed his ability to understand a lot of things and he gets memories mixed up in a big way. He insists that so and so happened at such and such time and it is easier to just nod in agreement than to argue with him.

Some of the family cringe when they see him coming or when the county jail number shows up on caller I.D.. but when I see him at the Food Bank, I am reminded of the big brother I had way back when. He goes around excitedly telling everyone I am his baby sister. Sometimes he does not have his identification on him but they know him as he is a regular. They just look over at me, asking if I vouch for him being who he claims to be and I say yes, he is my big brother and I give him a big hug.

My brother was not always a drug addict. Being the oldest, he played sports and the prettiest girl in school crushed on him. But shortly after they graduated, before they got married, she was killed in an accident along with her sister and parents, and David took to using drugs. He changed almost overnight.

The family tried in many ways to get him to get help over the years. Our younger brother is always bailing him out of jail when he is found walking around in the middle of night, unsure of where he is. An officer told us he was looking for Tara. I cried. Tara had been his high school sweetheart, the one who died.

Still, for just a moment when our eyes meet across the room, I see the big brother I love inside of the man who threw everything away for drugs. Sometimes I pray that Tara is up there somewhere and sees David and how much he needs help. For a long time I didn’t believe that…until last week.