No wonder more than two-thirds of Americans report that addiction has affected them personally. This heartbreaking statistic continues to show the pervasive impact substance use disorder has nationally. Greg chairs Families Anonymous. He’s a parent who has been on the frontlines of addiction as his son fought through substance use challenges. Now, three years later, Ron Grover thinks back on his son’s hard-fought journey. After years of his son struggling with addiction, the young man at last found sobriety in 2010. The tragic deaths of Rob and Michele Singer Reiner, believed to be linked to their son Nick Reiner’s ongoing struggles, underscore the urgent need to address the stigma surrounding addiction.
In 2024, a growing number of Americans—16.8 percent, or nearly 48.5 million—will face substance use disorders. That’s despite the well-established reality that three in four people with addiction can achieve sobriety. For many families, this comes with a huge emotional cost as they face nightmares and anxiety over their loved ones.
Real families such as Greg’s and Grover’s show the grim truth that addiction can change a family’s world in just a moment. “It tears you up, because that’s a family destroyed, just like so many other families that we know that their sons or daughters or loved ones didn’t survive the disease of addiction,” Grover expressed, reflecting on the devastation experienced by families dealing with this crisis.
Despite decriminalization advocacy, the stigma associated with addiction and mental health issues continues to be prevalent in the U.S. Many parents live with a constant fear for their children’s safety, often worrying about the possibility of relapse or worse. Greg articulated his anxiety candidly: “I’m afraid he’s going to die at some point. If he relapses or uses again, it’s eventually going to kill him. That’s my biggest fear.” Such sentiments ring true in communities across the country where addiction affects too many families, including Louisvillians.
Colleen Berryessa, associate professor of addiction and mental health, advocates for the need to talk about addiction and mental health, and their intersection. “These are really important conversations to have since addiction is so prevalent in the United States, and the rates have continually increased,” she stated. Berryessa further challenged the stigma and misunderstanding that frequently cloud discussions about addiction.
“There’s a myth that there is a super predator out there just waiting to prey on other people,” she explained. However, she maintains that most people with substance use disorders aren’t violent. In fact, the overwhelming majority of individuals with addiction or substance use disorder will never display anything even approaching violent tendencies. It’s a real rarity,” Berryessa noted.
In the face of this reality, too many parents do not speak out for fear that stigma will eclipse their loved ones’ battles. Berryessa warned, “I’m afraid that people are going to take their stigmatization of addiction and substance use disorder and fill in the gaps to try to make sense of what happened.” Tragic events, such as the recent deaths of the Reiners, only heighten this concern. We tend to focus too much on former drug users rather than the realities of addiction and recovery.
Greg expressed his reluctance to set such strict boundaries for his son. He underscored the painful decisions a parent must make to manage an adult child who is addicted to drugs. Establishing boundaries, such as refusing to let adult children with SUDs move back home, can trigger guilt. As it improves traffic safety, it creates a new fear for millions of parents. Grover remembered their terror: each and every evening, right before you put your head on the pillow, the concern was there. The alternatives were getting that dreaded call or the knock on the door, which meant he was never coming home.
The experiences of these families serve as a powerful reminder that addiction has no boundaries and can impact anybody, regardless of socio-economic status or background. Grover remarked, “This can happen to anybody, no matter how rich you are, no matter how poor you are, no matter how powerful you are.” The universality of addiction should remind us all that we need to fight stigma through education, empathy, and advocacy.
As families continue to confront these challenges, it is crucial for communities to engage in open dialogues about addiction and mental health. Only by dismantling stigma and fostering empathy can we come together as a society to better support those affected by these complex issues.