Is There Strength in Confessions?

In order for someone to improve their health, would it not make sense to express their weakness for drugs or alcohol? Is that not the most difficult and significant step in recovery (Alexander, LaRosa, Bader, Garfield & Alexander, 2010)? I am of an opinion, a person has greater strength to seek help when an issue is beyond his or her control rather than allow the problem to control every aspect of their lives. Condoning neither the use of alcohol nor drug use, I would, however feel self-righteous judging another human due to his or her weakness for drugs or alcohol.

My decision was decidedly made while at the age of 6 years, during a conversation with my uncle. As he expressed that he would soon die due to cirrhosis of the liver, simply asked me not to smoke or drink. He expressed it may one day save my life. I thank him for the advice. I now share it with my children and my hope is that they will do the same.

There are children as young as 8 years of age who are smoking; consequently, smoking appears to be difficult to commence and even more difficult to relinquish (Alexander, LaRosa, Bader, Garfield & Alexander, 2010). The tobacco companies are making billions of dollars annually and have not been shut down nor have places such as alcohol breweries been closed permanently. We also have pharmaceutical companies distributing medications which have more negative side effect than positive required results. This vicious cycle is also causing significant damage to men, women and children.

I believe we must first admit our country has a problem with alcohol and tobacco companies selling and distributing harmful substances, which are destroying its people. How are we to teach children not to indulge in such activities when there are cigarettes and alcohol at or near the checkout counters in local supermarkets? Substances such as these are forever within our view thus, within the view of our younger generation and our children.

It appears we are fighting a battle we were never intended to win.
Is it a sign of weakness if a person confesses he or she has an issue with alcohol or drug use? No, it is a sign of weakness to sell and distribute such items to our people.

Alexander, L.L., LaRosa, J. H., Bader, H., Garfield, S., & Alexander, W. J. (2010).
Substance Abuse. In S. Goldberg, A.L. Bloom, & K. Hoover (Eds.), New Dimensions in Women's Health, (5th Ed.) (pp. 362-396). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.