An Honest Post About My Struggle With Addiction

I want to be honest here — not polished, not inspirational, just real.

I didn’t use drugs because I didn’t care about my life.

I used them because, at times, they felt like the only thing that made life tolerable.

Addiction wasn’t a single bad choice.

It was a pattern that built slowly — coping, escaping, numbing, surviving.

There were moments where I thought I had control.

And moments where it was clear I didn’t.

What addiction really looked like for me:

Knowing the risks and still taking them

Promising “this will be the last time” and believing it

Shame that kept me silent

Fear of judgment that stopped me asking for help

Wanting relief more than consequences

Harm reduction entered my life before recovery ever did.

It didn’t ask me to be ready.

It didn’t shame me for not stopping.

It just said: stay alive.

Carry naloxone.

Don’t use alone.

Start lower.

Check substances.

Look out for each other.

Those things mattered. They still do.

I’m sharing this because addiction doesn’t mean someone is weak, careless, or beyond help.

It means they’re human — often dealing with pain, trauma, or unmet needs.

Harm reduction gave me breathing room.

Time.

Safety.

And eventually, choice.

If you’re still struggling, you’re not broken.

If you’re not ready to stop, you still deserve safety.

If you’re trying again — that counts.

This space exists because survival comes first.

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skool.com/harm-reduction-in-drug-use-1152

I share practical tips, personal insights, and supportive strategies for navigating substance use without judgment.