It takes a village to recover from drug addiction | Charlotte Colman | TEDxGhent

“Once an addict, always an addict”? Most addicted drug users do recover, but it takes time. We know that recovery results from an interplay between individual and social factors such as personal motivation or meeting the (wo)man of your dreams. But that’s not enough. After all, there’s a huge difference between wanting to change and having the opportunity to change. That’s why we should focus more on social connectedness and the role of the community in successful recovery. 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

[@mhmm8725]

Quitting smoke/vaping/weed has done me a ton of good in a short amount of time! Annoying because I loved those things, but my physical health is so much better.

[@DarKNess1111x]

I long stigmatized addiction, which was mostly the result of being closed minded and lacking understanding of the mechanics of addiction. I've come to understand that it is merely a symptom of the multifaceted disease of emotional dysfunction. The more compassion, empathy, love, inclusion and forgiveness we extend to ourselves and others, the better positioned we are to thrive collectively. For we are inherently connected and as long as, and to the extent that one suffers, that pain will in some capacity extend to all.

[@relec5379]

I was a drug addict been clean for 6 yrs and my goal is to hit ten .it’s very hard when you don’t have the support but if your strong enough you can do it it on your own .

[@kolarz2128]

Thank you

[@christopherevans406]

I got 7 months .

[@dimitarkostov8301]

I agree with your message. From personal experience I can recall that isolation always acts as a catalyst to addiction. Associating with a community and asking for help are the only way one can escape addiction.

[@DarKNess1111x]

I WISH anyone in my life cared enough to ask a single question or challenge, actually care or be honest, involved, etc. Either they ignore, enable, accuse and accost me for doing/chasing worse things than hurting me but of ever doing anything to hurt them, which only fuels the tendency to isolate and makes the chemicals that much more attractive as they feel safer than those so-called "loved ones" esp considering our history, which in part due to their abuses drove me here to begin with. People equal pain and a slew of undue, convoluted threats, while drugs and even opting out are a mercy by comparison. And that glimpse into my reality is a massive understatement, so how do I find my way out of this cycle? Been trying for years and si've made some strides but I can't kick it. It's all I have and the only thing i can truly rely on

[@reereeasia333]

It’s 2024 and we still are quick to prescribe opioids and create addicts. Doctors are motivated to keep patients on these harmful drugs but there is no plan or training to recover patients and their families.

[@brettcordes3602]

I respect the presenter’s dedication to the issue. However, I 100% disagree with the most basic tenet of her perspective. An addict is not responsible for their disease, but they are responsible for their recovery. And the addict has to do the work, irrespective of the other people’s thoughts, actions, or emotions, because we can’t control any variable in life except our own thoughts and actions. These have to be enough. In fact, ridding oneself of concern about what others think about us is necessary for a successful recovery. The community can’t recover an addict. Friends and family can’t recover an addict. It’s up to the addict. Friends, family, and the community can offer support, but even this has to be accepted by the addict.

[@warre50]

i find very enterteining i also was addicted to herien

[@paigeboughal9599]

Thank you for this!

[@paulmathew1214]

I found this to be an interesting perspective. Thanks for the upload. Addiction treatment is lagging behind the medical and physiological knowledge

[@recoveryvoices]

Excellent talk.

[@jasonbachelor604]

It's not a drug overdose. It's a drug prohibition overdose

[@fmlincorporatedfmlllcee2958]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@tracylyall6314]

her views and opinions are very bias - constantly referring to addiction which leads to homelessness and people who don't have money to survive. there are more addicts and alcoholics that go unnoticed and untreated in wealthier communities than poor. this stigma that addiction is a homeless/poor issue is annoying. I've met more wealthy tweakers, people who 'dose', druggies and people with alcohol issues in middle to upper class due to their wealth and access to drugs/alcohol. middle and upper class kids have more money to experiment, buy drugs and some even think its cool to sell them. know who supports the lower class drug dealers? mostly middle to upper class, they're the ones buying the drugs, not the kids in impoverished communities.it's a crisis that concerns all groups not just one. and as for the 'bad teeth' she refers too, that happens to people in america who don't have access to dental care as well. i think poverty is a crisis. and so is lying, americans are liars

[@KlngVJames]

Also put it this way. The addicts from both sides of society only have a knowledge gap difference which is why the wealthier side goes unnoticed or more likely unreported since they know the consequences of admitting their addictions. I will admit i personally know there are a lot of wealthy addicts in my hometown and in college. They start very young and go to these parties taking random pills from these rainbow bowls. Sometimes the parents are directly involved with these parties and some are directly supplying the kids with all the goods. So in most cases if the people arent doing anything reckless then in most cases it never goes reported

[@pittamaniak]

first

[@warre50]

i was first addicted to herien