E.231 Breaking The Stigma Around Addiction (Part 2 of 2)

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As we continue the conversation with Lisa, Trusas. Stigma is a quiet siren—it keeps people from asking for help, and it teaches the rest of us to look away. We open up about what addiction really looks like inside emergency services and at home, from dispatch centers and correctional facilities to ERs and patrol rooms. We talk about growing up in households where chaos felt normal, why “functioning alcoholic” gets a pass while heroin use gets a scarlet letter, and how the words we choose either build bridges or burn them.

You’ll hear how one honest admission inside a department transformed the room: jokes faded, questions surfaced, and colleagues started asking how to help their loved ones. We unpack the trap of “it’s legal, so it’s fine,” whether it’s alcohol, vaping, benzos, or 3 a.m. sports betting. We also dig into the system-level barriers—insurance limits, AMA discharges, closed youth detox beds—that make recovery harder than it needs to be. And we highlight practical steps anyone can take: use person-first language, speak privately when you’re worried, leverage peer-to-peer centers, and know the basics of getting someone into detox or a civil commitment when it’s the safest option.

Addiction doesn’t care about uniforms or titles. It shows up as compulsion, secrecy, and a deep fear of being seen. Recovery shows up as patience, multiple tries, and small moments of courage—the text that arrives months later, the hand held at the right time, the story that makes someone feel less alone. If you’re ready to trade labels for listening and shame for support, this conversation offers tools, perspective, and hope. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find real help without the noise.

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