Five Things I've learned about addiction, by Katie.

1. I, as a loving family member of someone who has addiction, feel powerless to help or provide supportive assistance in their life/recovery. It is ultimately their choice to use drugs (or other substances) and therefore has to be their choice to stop. I can speak to them till I'm blue in the face - it won't make a difference.

2. I also feel extremely sad that I have said to friends etc 'there is nothing we can do, it is a tragic waste and loss of life, but what is there we can do?' - I have not given up entirely of course, my love is always going to be there - but in some ways yes I have given up trying to 'rescue' or help this person, which causes me much sadness.

3. Addiction is like a taboo topic and people feel ashamed they suffer with addiction so they isolate themselves from loved ones or perhaps everyone. They perhaps hate the person they are with addiction in full grip. If only we are able to talk to each other a little better, will they perhaps realise the love there is for them by friends, family, other supportive networks. They are not alone and it is not a shameful existence - it is an incredibly human experience by many many people. It can affect anyone at any stage of life - it is a way of coping and there are ways to manage it.

4. In many ways addiction is like self-medicating for other traumas or health issues that have been undiagnosed, possibly early childhood abuse for example. By opening up and reaching out for help these can be addressed in depth by therapists and doctors etc. Denial and pride often are barriers to this happening, but perhaps in the evolving society we are in talking about our feelings and emotions is becoming more accepted hopefully. There is still stigma and shame for men though I believe, and ideas around toxic masculinity are potentially the reasons for this.

5. Addiction can cause unpredictable behaviours from the people who use drugs or alcohol for example. This I believe is what frightens most members of the public if they witness someone in distress/high for example on the street. However, there is more call for compassion towards each other and less fear of the unknown. Sadly the media pumps out fear-based stories for clickbait and a lot of people absorb these viewpoints. But I think if someone appears in distress - perhaps ask them how are you getting on? or call for an ambulance if very serious. We are all human and sometimes we need a little help from time to time, please don't just walk on by.