Heroin Addiction, Recovery and No Shame | Crystal Oertle | TEDxColumbus

TEDx Talks

7 Dec 201508:19

Summary

TLDRThe speaker shares their journey from opioid addiction to recovery, detailing the progression from painkillers to heroin and the daily struggle to obtain drugs. They recount the emotional toll on their family and the turning point when their mother's plea for change led them to seek help. The story emphasizes the importance of support and overcoming societal stigma to seek treatment.

Takeaways

💊 The speaker's addiction began at 20 with a single Vicadin pill, highlighting how easily addiction can start.
🔄 As tolerance grew, so did the need for stronger pain medications like Oxycontin and Dilaudid, illustrating the progression of addiction.
🚫 The speaker was reluctant to try heroin due to societal stigma but did so out of desperation, showing the lengths addiction can drive someone.
🚗 The daily commute to Columbus for heroin reflects the extreme measures taken to feed an addiction.
📞 The detailed process of securing drugs involved phone calls and specific instructions, indicating the organized nature of the drug trade.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The speaker's children were often involved in these trips, demonstrating the collateral damage of addiction on family.
🚔 An incident where the speaker was pulled over with her child in the car didn't deter her addiction, showing the power of addiction over rational thinking.
🏥 The speaker's son was bitten by a dog and taken to the hospital while she was away scoring heroin, a poignant example of the neglect caused by addiction.
😡 The son's anger and attempt to intervene by showing the grandmother the drug paraphernalia didn't stop the speaker, underscoring the difficulty of breaking addiction.
👵 A serious conversation with the mother was the turning point, emphasizing the role of family in recovery.
🙌 The speaker's recovery was supported by her family without judgment, stressing the importance of a supportive environment for addicts.
🗣️ Sharing her story publicly aims to reduce the stigma around heroin addiction and encourage others to seek help, showing the power of personal testimony.

Q & A

What was the initial trigger for the speaker's addiction?
-The speaker's addiction began when they were offered a Vicadin at the age of 20 and they liked the effect it had on them.
What was the progression of the speaker's addiction?
-The speaker's addiction progressed from taking Vicadin to seeking stronger pain medications like Oxycoton and Diloted, and eventually to using heroin when they could not find pills.
Why did the speaker initially resist using heroin?
-The speaker was reluctant to use heroin initially because they had a preconceived judgment about what a heroin addict looks and acts like, and they did not identify with that image.
How did the speaker's daily routine revolve around heroin?
-The speaker's daily routine involved traveling to Columbus every day to get heroin, either using it there or waiting until they got back home, and then selling and using the drug as needed.
What was the speaker's method of obtaining heroin?
-The speaker would call ahead to arrange a meeting with their dealer in Columbus, specifying how much money they had, and upon arrival, they would be directed to a specific exit and location to meet.
How did the speaker's family get involved in their addiction?
-The speaker would sometimes bring their young daughter with them to the city to get heroin, believing it was safer than leaving her with a stranger.
What incidents occurred that should have prompted the speaker to quit but didn't?
-The speaker's son was bitten by a dog and taken to the hospital while the speaker was away getting heroin, and another time the son confronted the speaker about their addiction, but these incidents did not make the speaker quit.
What was the turning point for the speaker to decide to stop using heroin?
-The turning point was when the speaker's mother looked at them seriously and told them they had to stop, making the speaker realize the impact of their addiction on their family.
How has the speaker's family supported them through their recovery?
-The speaker's family has been supportive throughout their recovery, never turning their backs on them despite the challenges the speaker caused due to their addiction.
What is the speaker's message about the stigma surrounding heroin addiction?
-The speaker wants to convey that people struggling with heroin addiction should not be ashamed to seek help, as there is support available and the societal stigma can prevent people from getting the help they need.
What does the speaker hope to achieve by sharing their story?
-The speaker hopes that by sharing their story, they can help at least one person realize that they don't have to be ashamed of their addiction and seek the help they need.

Outlines

00:00

💉 Struggling with Opioid Addiction

The speaker shares their journey with addiction, starting with an introduction to painkillers like vicadin at the age of 20. They describe the progression from using prescription drugs to seeking out stronger substances like oxycodone and eventually heroin. The narrative details the daily struggle to obtain drugs, traveling to Columbus every day to secure heroin, and the impact on their family life. Despite facing dangerous situations and legal troubles, such as being pulled over with their daughter in the car, they continue down this path. The speaker highlights the physical and emotional pain of withdrawal and the desperate measures taken to avoid it.

05:02

🌟 Overcoming Addiction with Family Support

The speaker recounts the pivotal moment when their mother's serious plea for them to stop using drugs finally resonated. They reflect on the realization that their addiction was causing immense suffering not only to themselves but also to their family. The narrative emphasizes the importance of family support in their recovery process, as they felt loved and not judged by their family members. The speaker expresses gratitude for this support and shares their current state of recovery, free from shame about their past. They urge others to seek help without fear of stigma, as there is always someone willing to support them in their journey to recovery.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Addiction

Addiction is a chronic brain disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli, despite adverse consequences. In the video, the speaker's addiction began with prescription painkillers like Vicodin and escalated to heroin. The narrative illustrates the progression from initial use to physical dependence and the daily struggle to obtain the substance, highlighting the theme of addiction's grip on one's life.

💡Recovery

Recovery refers to the process of healing or regaining a normal or better state after a period of illness or addiction. The speaker discusses their journey through recovery, which is central to the video's message of hope and the possibility of overcoming addiction. Recovery is depicted as a fortunate outcome, not guaranteed for all, and it underscores the importance of support and personal resolve.

💡Vicodin

Vicodin is a prescription opioid pain medication, combining hydrocodone and acetaminophen. It is mentioned as the initial gateway drug that led to the speaker's addiction. The mention of Vicodin in the script illustrates the common pathway from prescription drug misuse to illicit substance abuse, which is a significant theme in discussions about the opioid crisis.

💡Oxycontin

Oxycontin, or oxycodone, is another opioid pain medication that the speaker mentions as part of their addiction progression. As tolerance grew, so did the need for stronger substances like Oxycontin, which is a common narrative among individuals with opioid use disorder. It exemplifies the escalating nature of addiction and the search for more potent drugs to achieve the same effect.

💡Heroin

Heroin is an illegal opioid drug that the speaker turned to when they could no longer find prescription painkillers. The shift to heroin is a critical point in the narrative, representing a deepening of the addiction and the associated risks and lifestyle changes. It is a symbol of the desperation and lengths individuals may go to satisfy their addiction.

💡Tolerance

Tolerance refers to the body's decreasing response to a drug over time, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect. The speaker's increasing tolerance for pain medications like Vicodin and Oxycontin is a key aspect of their addiction story, illustrating the physiological changes that drive the cycle of addiction.

💡Withdrawal

Withdrawal symptoms are the physical and mental effects experienced when reducing or stopping drug use after dependence has developed. The speaker describes the 'awful' withdrawal symptoms as a driving force to continue using, even when they wanted to stop, highlighting the physical bondage of addiction.

💡Stigma

Stigma refers to the negative stereotypes and social disapproval associated with certain conditions or behaviors, such as heroin addiction. The speaker discusses the societal stigma around heroin users, which can prevent individuals from seeking help. The video's message challenges this stigma, advocating for understanding and support rather than judgment.

💡Support

Support in the context of addiction refers to the assistance and encouragement from family, friends, or professionals that can aid in recovery. The speaker emphasizes the importance of their family's unwavering support as a key factor in their recovery journey, illustrating the role of a supportive network in overcoming addiction.

💡Family

Family plays a central role in the speaker's story, both as a source of potential harm due to their addiction and as a pillar of support during recovery. The narrative shows the impact of addiction on family dynamics and the importance of familial bonds in the recovery process.

💡Sobriety

Sobriety is the state of not being under the influence of addictive substances, often used to describe the period following addiction recovery. The speaker's achievement of sobriety is a triumphant endpoint in their story, symbolizing the successful overcoming of addiction and the beginning of a new, healthier life.

Highlights

Speaker begins their story of addiction and recovery.

Introduced to vicadin at the age of 20, leading to opiate addiction.

Daily struggle to find pills and the need for stronger medications like oxycoton and diloted.

Transition to heroin due to unavailability of pain pills and physical addiction.

The reluctance to use heroin due to societal judgment.

Description of the painful withdrawal symptoms.

Daily routine of traveling to Columbus for heroin.

The process of contacting dealers and arranging meetups for drug purchases.

The impact of addiction on family life, including bringing a child along on drug runs.

An incident where the speaker's son was bitten by a dog, highlighting the neglect caused by addiction.

The speaker's son's anger and attempt to make the speaker quit.

The pivotal moment when the speaker's mother urged them to stop using drugs.

The realization of the disruption caused by addiction to the speaker's family.

The decision to stop using drugs and the beginning of recovery.

Family support during recovery and the importance of not being ashamed.

The societal stigma around heroin addiction and its impact on seeking help.

The speaker's message of hope and the importance of support in recovery.

The speaker concludes by emphasizing the value of sharing their story to help others.