Addiction: A Story of Stigma, A Story of Hope | Scott McFadden | TEDxColoradoSprings

Scott McFadden is a Licensed Addictions Counselor, who also identifies as a person in long term recovery from heroin and other drugs. He shares a harrowing story of incarceration and a long journey to recovery while explaining the dynamics of addiction and the labels, shame, and stigma which have become the greatest obstacles to turning around the opioid epidemic. He shows us the need to talk to one another to overcome the secret places where shame resides. This is a story of vulnerability and hope! Scott McFadden, a Licensed Addictions Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor, has worked in the mental health treatment field for ten years, in roles as varied as therapist, clinical director, executive director, and member of the National Assn of Drug Court Professionals. He has both personal and professional experience with Medication Assisted Treatment and volunteers on the steering committee of the Coalition for the Prevention, Addiction Education and Recovery in Colorado Springs. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@brandontrice1741]

3 days clean detoxing. Heading to 28 day tomorrow. Scared to leave my wife and daughters but I don't want them to grow up without a dad. Prayers appreciated good luck everyone we can do it

[@saleemahmuhammad6656]

Take it one step at a time. You have the will power, you will be successful.

[@nairda5102]

How are you doing bud?

[@CityWalks3216]

Great job for starting off on the journey all the best to you

[@Makeup_momster]

How’s it going? I hope Ur well.

[@brandynelson9759]

How’s life for you nowadays? Hopefully you are still clean, living your best life in recovery with your wife and kids. Stay blessed 🖤🖤🖤

[@shannanbrennan612]

I was once an iv opioid abuser. Started the methadone program and never touched it again after that day!! Aug 29 2015 is my sobriety date 😻

[@nickycotton6137]

Fair-Play.👍. (DON'T RELAPSE)....✌.... How did ya get off the 'Devil's Linctus' then?

[@richeyrich2203]

Did you get off methadone?

[@ttown702]

I always seem to come back to this but I hope you're still going strong 💪 you got this

[@livingstone8347]

Methadone is an opiod, we are not clean on methadone or suboxone we are maintained. From one addict to another, honesty is the best policy.

[@masonthrush2742]

Getting clean was the hardest thing I’ve ever done but my recovery has become a lifestyle and habit a work ethic and I’m proud to say I am a college athlete getting good grades and proving to myself that recovery is possible and life is more than the demons that haunt you

[@eddymartinez1123]

Very true is like hard qetting out of it but there'salways the loves one that cares and we make changes in life is tuff situation very hard but we can progress and get better in our lifes

[@nicolebenjamin3862]

I’m glad you got help. God bless your path in recovery.

[@paulasuprenant6728]

I am going to get clean and sober after Christmas.Merry Christmas everyone

[@kennyledet186]

did you? I find that was a lie I told myself soooooo many times. Quitting while you're high or drunk never works. walk into an aa meeting. It can change your life.

[@tylerb3553]

I hope you did and are doing good my friend

[@rickpascale2733]

Why wait

[@gilbygottfry7600]

Update?

[@paulasuprenant6728]

Clean and sober now!😀

[@hollyrussell6599]

I hate that people who struggle with addiction are sent to prison. They need help and support, not shaming and isolation. That's only going to make the issue 10× worse later down the track. I don't live with substance issues but I have other addictions which aren't what people normally class as addictions and it hurts me deeply to know that other people out there struggling with addictions to drugs or alcohol are treated so badly. It's a mental illness, not a crime. People who struggle with anything need help and love, including people who struggle with substances. Thank you for sharing your story and I'm sure you just made many people watching this feel so much less alone. People like you who open up and share their stories make it just a little easier for everyone else and if everyone starts sharing, the world can hopefully become a place where we don't punish people who are suffering

[@Pafarmgirl90]

Such an inspiration, such a great speaker , one of my favorites I have heard speak ! Today I celebrate one year drug free , thanks to the help of MAT! We can recover ! We can beat this !

[@jakerussell636]

I hope your still off the drugs I'm sure you are ?

[@HolyWarriorPrincess222]

Suboxone was worse to get off than anything. Praise God I am free of it all 🙏

[@jakeevegrubbgames9472]

My addict love one sent me this . He is in rehab for meth addiction. Thanks for sharing.

[@Someonesomewhere5112]

This video is gold I can’t believe that this video just have 115 likes while other trashing videos in the platform who have nothing to teach to the humanity haves millions of likes and views, this humanity is disappointing.

[@anteperkusic9323]

True

[@donkelleher9726]

Ya it's all wrong, very good point

[@heatherrayramirez3749]

I love this. Working on staying clean always!! The work never stops and God don't either

[@antoniorosa2865]

relapse Today mad at my self .. I feel bad wut I did .. but imma stay strong .. too much to lose . I’ll succeed

[@BaliandbeyondCa]

Good story. I’m sober 40 years. Love to chat.

[@saleemahmuhammad6656]

Congratulations.

[@mphonenweli5239]

Would love to chat

[@just_bee9482]

I know that the stigma is a major issue but where to start when seeking for help is also a big problem let alone the cost involved for the treatment. I think many more people would come forward if they knew how to go about it and could afford it

[@carlschleg5822]

12 STEP PROGRAMS are cheapest but most expensive. No one else pays for it and YOU do the work. 32 years later, one white chip and NEVER LOOKED BACK!

[@steveriddell1937]

Yes you are right in Australia there a some really good prorgms that cost nothing more than your unemployment payment each fortnight but we are like to have that system. Other countries are not as fortunate but even here Poeple die waiting to get into recovery it's still could be a lot better for people that are sick with addiction my love hope to you keep trying there should be more help and less spending on wars America seems to have to keep spending on instead of helping there sick or putting them in jail

[@elijahdunmore7526]

HI THANK GOD FOR THIS GUY FOR SHARING HIS ADDICTION PROBLEM THAT REALLY HIT HOME FOR ME I HAVE BEEN SOBER FOR 2 YEARS AND 11 MONTHS AS OF FEBRUARY 6-2023 I NEVER FELT BETTER I HOPE WITH THIS GUY STORY AND MY SOBRIETY JOURNEY WILL HELP AT LEAST ONE PERSON AND ON AND ON AND ON THANKS FOR SHARING LOVE YOU GUYS AND LIVE A SOBER AND HAPPY HAPPY 2023🎉❤❤❤

[@magikarpslapper759]

That was from the heart. Thank you.

[@clintoncampbell-smith1228]

Huge Respect!!

[@lindaschmidt27]

Shared this video for psycho-ed. Feedback was very positive and hopeful for recovery. Thank you!

[@clintoncampbell-smith1228]

i feel the same! thank you for talking about it!

[@iyaakasha9029]

Thank you for your sharing, for your bravery.

[@tessap5280]

Thank you for sharing your story!

[@ilikepasta99]

I could care less or anyone thinks I would never give up my Suboxone based on how it’s viewed or if people don’t think it’s clean or not if it’s considered being clean I know that it saved my life that’s all the proving I need

[@AirSullivan504]

But wouldn’t you want to get off if. It’s just switching addictions and I get I’ve taken it and it gets me high. So it can’t be good. Not judging at all. I wish I could get some lol just wouldn’t take it every day

[@herstory1012]

Amazing, thanks for sharing!

[@WALDHERRSCHAFT]

Best content about addiction I've seen so far!

[@TheNatalietamburello]

BRAVO!!!!

[@sagalwarsame1610]

Thank you for sharing your story

[@robinworkman3621]

I'm a firm believer, the majority of people are addicted to at least 1 thing.the problem is, some things are socially acceptable.

[@regalchic]

True.. I had to start working against KZbin videos addiction

[@raulfierro3409]

Yes you right but you cannot fix them but you can fix yours 😉

[@robinworkman3621]

@@raulfierro3409 I'm fully aware. I just think it's funny, some people really get down on others for their addictions. All the while not even realizing they have their own.

[@declankellh661]

We all live in a prison But those of us who see The bars suffer most of all.. Stay strong..

[@mahoneyjack5074]

Wow! Incredibly inspirational! It has been my understanding that the younger a person is when they begin using substances - and the longer they are using (not to mention the route of administration -I.V. In Mr. McFadden’s case) - the poorer the prognosis. So - this has been an EXCEPTIONAL example of the possibility of HOPE for ANYONE to recover. Thank you so much for sharing your remarkable journey. I wish you many more decades of good health and good cheer! (FYI - I’m also “in recovery.”)

[@Soul.Stylist.Solutions333]

Thank you for sharing this Scott..! 🙏🏻🤍😇👌🏻✨

[@natev1956]

Very well said I can see myself in your story And it's just what I needed tonight

[@otiliadonaire]

Thank you for shari g your hope! Very inspiring!

[@michellemaloney1753]

He is such an inspiration!!

[@freezerburnednomore]

Thank you for your share.

[@trinoortiz1314]

My first day

[@tinamariereyero4283]

I’m so incredibly grateful and honored to know Scott’s courage and desire to make the implicit explicit. You are an inspiration Scott

[@mishthibatra1503]

Such a Wonderful and insightful TED talk !!!

[@scottfisher5303]

Thank you so much great advice! STOPTHESTIGMASTARTSURVIVING!

[@martisnow8696]

Thank you!!!!!!

[@finishTheRace4HIM]

Recover out loud....I like that 💯

[@ccsuperbad346]

Wow. Very inspirational and educational. This and videos like this need much more publicity.

[@cortezsb7727]

Thank you for sharing your story ❤️

[@mburnam0]

Tell the truth I was there with you, boosting for your dope. I did get clean years ago. You act like a messiah and f***your real friends that were always there for you. You act like we don't exist. Phony

[@nikknakk3099]

Your story is my own on so many levels. You are 100% right MAT is extremely effective but also very judgementalized I feel like it's my job to share your video to everyone in my mat clinic

[@herreraa26]

im 24 turning 25 soon. i lived in Dallas, TX from 2 years old until I was 21. I was an illegal immigrant but I would say I was a victim, I had no say in the matter, I was only 2 years old. I grew up in TX the same way a normal US citizen does and sometimes normal US citizens have addictions and problems. I had problems because I grew up around people who had problems. Fast forward to going to jail because of a DUI, an offense that micheal would only serve about a month worth of jail time. I had to serve something bigger, I had to say goodbye to my home and say hello to a country (Mexico) that I have never seen in person before. In TX i didnt smoke cigarettes but a week after arriving in mexico, I started smoking cigarettes because I needed to distract myself from all the stress and sadness. I met an uncle who found a place to get drugs and soon after I was hooked on Meth Amphetamine because it made the pain and sadness of being kicked out of my home go away. Now I'm trying to stop and have been successful for a while but every now and again I relapse and I feel ashamed. I live alone, have no friends to talk to. That uncle who introduced me to it got clean because his wife came down to Mexico to live with him and meanwhile I'm in an apartment living alone, feeling alone. I want to change, but when I just feel so much more lonely when I'm sober, no one talks to me, no one sends a message to ask how I'm doing. I feel so alone. I drink sometimes and I don't even know why. Dear God, I hope I can recieve help before this goes too far.

[@danielfcastro]

Hey. How are you doing? I hope things got better!

[@Mbfly8]

Hey bro, thanks for sharing your story. I’d love to get to know you. You seem like an awesome person. I hope you are doing well wherever you may be. 🫂

[@user-rz7ix4se9k]

Stigma & shame are the worst enemies of recovery.

[@ThankyouJesus81]

You would never look at this guy and think he has been through all that.

[@trinoortiz1314]

It’s the third time I’m listening to it

[@jeanroth159]

Excellent story my friend, thank you for sharing....x

[@jaelyn1630]

I’m struggling soooo much right now! i want to get clean so bad but i’ve been suffering silently for so long i don’t know how to come clean and ask for help, everyone knows i’ve had problems with substances in my past but i’ve been (supposedly high functioning, doesn’t really feel like that to me though) and suffering in silence for the last 3 years. I’ve had the worst experiences in the past, i mean not 1-2 encounters but probably dozens because i’ve been suffering for 2 decades on and off. I feel like i’m in a crowd of people screaming and no one can hear me. i truly don’t know what to do, don’t know where to start. I’m also a single mom so worried about losing my kids and can’t afford to to take the time off to go to rehab. it’s truly feels like a hopeless situation.

[@scottmcfadden2306]

I haven't been back here to look at my own talk for a year or so. Someone encouraged me to come check it out again and I saw your message. Listen, I deeply feel what you're saying. Please, feel free to reach out to me. Look me up on FB messenger and let's talk a little bit. Will you do that? I don't know your name so I can't find you otherwise. Let me know you saw this.

[@jaelyn1630]

@@scottmcfadden2306 thank you so much for responding! wow re reading my initial comment pulled at my heart strings. I can’t believe that was only 9 days ago! i’m happy to report i’ve been to detox and have been clean for 4 days now! But still will find you on fb, i still have a long way to go but am so thankful that i’m much better than where i was just 9 days ago! still need a lot of support and info and suggestions, resources etc… THANK YOU!!

[@thetitan6595]

@@scottmcfadden2306 hi Scott is it ok if I contact you I’m a father of 3 and I’m really struggling with pain medicine. It’s controlled me for 7 years and I’m so tangled I just don’t know how to do it anymore I’ve tried everything I’m on my last leg

[@momee2chrisncam]

Look at my reply below it was meant for you

[@barometerbanner212]

We need to confront the word "addict." It's the final inevitable show-down between 12-step adherents and those fully committed to healing the stigmatizing effects of that word.

[@Nithion]

he did a great job changing his appearance. would have never guess all he went through

[@Ladyofthelake48]

Oh, my. How did he look before? What changed?

[@mistyjohns9857]

Awesome Ted Talk, Subutex saved my life!! I'm 20 months clean now thanks to MAT

[@tagaway6173]

What are subutex and MAT?

[@mistyjohns9857]

Subutex is a medication that keeps away the obsession to use. You have no cravings for opiods. MAT is medication assisted treatment which includes Suboxone, Subutex, Methadone, Vivitrol etc hope that helps

[@Ladyofthelake48]

@@tagaway6173 Misty’s answer seems clear to me. I hope it helps you. Mr. McFadden also talks about this in his presentation - if you missed that, might be worth another listen. Pretty important stuff.

[@eleanorjaya4706]

I commend you for how far you have come. To start using from an early age & trying all sorts of drugs, being in prison & much more you certainly had hope because look how far you have come & to teach others. I believe strongly that many addicts don’t come forward for help cause of the stigma put on them. Also I live in Australia & here our medical system is good but in the USA there not much hope unless you have money. That should be your first priority instead of money spent on weapons & your military system. Thank you for your story you are an inspiration, & have achieved something that in times is impossible

[@Mosdefinitelyable]

Yay!!!

[@kj-my7se]

Teflon. One tough cookie. Stigma and labeling had NO affect at all!

[@michaelgauthier8087]

I beg everyday for this nightmare to end, go to sleep everyday hoping for the impossible, 3 degrees yet dumbest person I know to put myself here, hopefully one day but I'm not the same as who I was a long time ago, another feeling to know it's wrong and continue knowing you are destroying yourself

[@tarawasinger]

🙌🏻💯

[@downbntout]

I'd really like to know the blood dopamine levels of withdrawal, and of sweets like candy

[@izzydeadyet7336]

I would do anything to go to a 60-90 day rehab and get clean! I'm in Ontario Canada and theres 50 methadone clinics in my city, but no way to actually get off drugs! I've been on a single opioid for about 15 years, all I want is to ditch it, go through withdrawl and get mental help.. but a rehab costs $10,000 to start, if anyone is wondering why theres an opioid epidemic, keep in mind theres no help! The methadone clinics will give you all the legal dope you want, ironically, I got prescribed the drug I'm hooked on at the methadone clinic .. but for those who want to get CLEAN, good luck unless you're a rich person.. I've come to the conclusion they want us to all die and go away, that's why fentanyl hit the streets and wiped out half of them .. the rest of the homless addicts, which even in my hope to get off the single pill I'm on, have no hope other than piling on more drugs legally

[@rocko100able]

Can this medical problem be a spiritual problem, the lack of one's own spiritual condition, you're saying support connection to other humans activities instead of just sitting around doing nothing sleeping so much it shows that you're depressed most of the time you just rather sleep I think this is spiritual like abuse from one's that love them or however that abuse occurred and has a force of its own a spiritual force that inflicts itself on a individual that can have lasting effects unless they come to a place where they can find spiritual the security and understand the direction there now going it is different it has that companionship that has that backup system and becoming part of the solution through one's own testimony.

[@denatinnin3058]

I dont wont them to die alone

[@denatinnin3058]

It make me wont to go to where my son and his wife lives under a rode way with 18 outher homless people because I cant give them any money and continue to enable them

[@yinafrentz]

Oh boy, why love necessity exists? It just fills up the deelers Bank accounts; should be if you get fine if not doing different something nice and healthy instead.

[@goldenbreeze6618]

I was an addict until the age of 28 w two baby girls when I quit. I disagree w the speech - stigma yes it exists- for me it did- a Latino background where everything is made note of…if I hadent risen above pride id be dead. We blame society-stigma…it’s not stigma…it’s pride- personal pride- you rise above it you can beat it.

[@salas..5686]

Methadone should be banned everywhere. Buroborphine is the way to go..the withdrawal is so much easier..

[@marcoscarajol4837]

Let me see if I understood him. We are in the middle of an opiodi epidemic and he is telling us that medications is severely under used?

[@jon3615]

He was talking about subonxone as an underutilized part of treating opioid addiction. It’s just part of the process to help the transition from where a person is in addiction to developing meaningful connections to the word. It’s like wearing a cast on a broken leg to help you function while the healing takes place and you learn to walk again slowly until you can take the cast off.

[@Rooster_Snuffer]

hard guy to listen to with that constant lip smacking every time he starts talking

[@hazelatwood2292]

Wow! Incredibly inspirational! It has been my understanding that the younger a person is when they begin using substances - and the longer they are using (not to mention the route of administration -I.V. In Mr. McFadden’s case) - the poorer the prognosis. So - this has been an EXCEPTIONAL example of the possibility of HOPE for ANYONE to recover. Thank you so much for sharing your remarkable journey. I wish you many more decades of good health and good cheer! (FYI - I’m also “in recovery.”)

[@mahoneyjack5074]

BRAVO!!!!