As Recovery Month continues, it’s important to recognize the power of sharing one’s addiction and recovery story. Healing comes from sharing, as the weight of holding on is lifted, replaced with feelings of understanding and support.
Yesterday, it was announced that Burt Reynolds entered into a drug rehab program to address his addiction to prescription painkillers. The celebrated actor recently underwent back surgery, the recovery from which can be excruciating. This is not his first battle with prescription drugs. He has, in the past, battled with a reliance on the sleeping aid Halcion.
In a recent statement from his publicist, Mr. Reynolds “felt like he was going through hell and after a while, realized he was a prisoner of prescription pain pills. He checked himself into rehab in order to regain control of his life.”
The purpose of sharing his story is not as celebrity gossip or fodder for the water cooler, but in hopes of educating and enlightening. Prescription drugs can be highly addictive. Possibly most dangerous of all, is their misconception–because a medical professional prescribed them, they are safe and trustworthy. The symptoms of addiction can be hard to recognize, easily ignored and excused away. With time, you can find yourself taken hostage by the pills, unable to live without them, requiring ever more as your tolerance builds.
By coming forward, Mr. Reynolds’ story can serve to highlight these dangers and help ease the stigma of addiction some. In his own words: “He hopes [others] will not try to solve the problem by themselves, but realize that sometimes it is too tough to do on their own and they should seek help, as he did.”
Source: MSNBC