Behind the Smile - You'll see Pain

In my sociology class, we are going over the war on drugs. When you think about the war on drugs...what comes to mind? A minority group? A different country? Think about it. What is the stereotype about drug users, abusers, and dealers? 

Did you ever think the war on drugs happened in your own backyard? Or your own house? How many readers of mine would be willing to help a drug user? I don't know. How many readers have been personally effected by drugs in some way? Probably a lot. I know I personally have. 

I've seen the effect that drugs has on a person. I've seen the effect that it has on a family. I've been through the tough times with multiple people. This blog may be a little longer than others. So strap in for a feels trip with me as I take you into a blast of my personal past. My classes have gotten me to open up lately about what I've been through. I figured if I have expierenced it, maybe someone can connect to it. Or at least learn a little bit about me. Here it goes. 

For as long as I can remember, one of my brothers has been addicted to drugs. I've watched him buy drugs, sell drugs, use drugs, abuse drugs. I've witnessed overdoses, fights, shooting up heroin, lighting spoons on fire, and I've even witnessed the effects of what happens when a drug deal goes wrong. I've had to pay off drug dealers before. I've never purchased drugs personally, but I've definitely had to pay them off. Drugs break families. When someone is abusing drugs, they will do whatever it takes to get the drugs that they want. Drugs change a person. Drugs kill receptors in the brain and the person doesn't know how to be happy without drugs. It's why it's called addiction. Drugs take over and kills someone even if they are not really dead. Now, I'm not going to go into tooooo much personal things due to legal purposes. But knowing all of this, I ask you to keep an open mind when it comes to drug users. Look deeper into the person. When someone does drugs, it's usually because they are unhappy where they are in life. They really need to get away. Don't ask why the drugs? Ask why the unhappiness? Ask not why they turned to drugs but what pain they went through? When you see a user, do you see pain? Or do you just see an abuser? When you see a homeless person do you see a drug user? Or do you see someone with a past? When you pictured a drug user above...did you possibly see a poor man of color? 

Try viewing things as more complex than what they are. I ask that while America is going through this war on drugs that you don't label. Approach the world as colorblind. Don't see black and white, but see everyone as equals. I asked a lot of questions in this blog because the war on drugs can be taken in multiple directions and perspectives. There are many unanswered questions and things to just think about. Soooooo, just think about it. See what makes a person.