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Jul 13
2009
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It’s been quite awhile since I took a philosophy class.
During college I always considered myself the philosophical type, but as a journalist I focus not on abstract ideas but concrete truths.
When I found myself at a philosophical lecture this week my mind began to spin. I went to the lecture expecting to hear about health care policy; instead the dialogue revolved around quality of life and what makes us human.The lecturer defined the value of people as their capacity to contribute to relationships with one another. A disabled infant confined indefinitely to life support would never be able to achieve this level of humanity. The discussion moved to the decision every parent hopes they never have to make: when or if they should take their child off life support.
I don’t have children yet and I can’t imagine the difficulty of such a decision. Literally, I can’t imagine.
During the forum my mind began to wander. This week I started a three-part series on prescription drug abuse. This topic reminded me of a plethora of difficult decisions that family members and co-workers have to make when confronted with an addict.
The lecture’s definition of what it means to be human returned to my mind. I grew up with an addict and I know firsthand the extent to which this disease hinders a person’s capacity to contribute to relationships.
Addiction is a crippling disease and the drug of choice for many comes in prescription form.
To an addict, these drugs become a form of life support. And it’s only through treatment that people with addiction can discover a new way to be human. A way to live without the OxyContin, Valium or Adderall.
If you know a family member, patient or co-worker who suffers from addiction, please don’t hesitate to seek help.
Here are some resources:
• Kansas Nurse Assistance Program: (913) 236-7575
• Missouri Nurses Association Peer Assistance Line: (573) 636-4623 ext. 228
• Kansas City area Alcoholics Anonymous (816) 471-7229
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