They Deserved Better Than This: Why Substance Use Is a Public Health Crisis, Not a Personal Failing
Let’s get real for a minute. When someone we love is lost to the drug epidemic, the world has a nasty habit of pinning the blame on them. People throw around words like “addict” and act like the struggle was all their fault, like it was some kind of moral weakness. That’s bullshit. Substance use isn’t a personal failing; it’s a system failing. And the good news is, systems can be changed.
The System Needs to Do Better
The truth is, the system makes it ridiculously hard for people to fight substance use. Need treatment? It’s often expensive, hard to find, and loaded with barriers. But it doesn’t have to stay this way. Imagine a world where affordable, effective care is available to everyone who needs it—without waitlists, without judgment, and without shame. That’s not just a dream. It’s possible, and people across the country are already pushing for it.
Right now, too many people battling substance use are met with punishment instead of help. They’re thrown into a criminal justice system that doesn’t solve the problem and leaves them worse off. But there’s a better way. Programs focused on recovery, not punishment, are already making a difference in communities that have chosen to embrace them. It’s proof that when we treat substance use as a health issue, lives can be saved.
Substance Use is a Public Health Crisis
Substance use is not about bad choices. It’s an illness shaped by trauma, mental health, and systemic issues like poverty. Nobody chooses this path for themselves. But here’s the thing: we’re not powerless. Public health crises require collective action, and we know how to do this. We’ve done it for other challenges, and we can do it for this one, too.
Harm reduction strategies—things like needle exchange programs and supervised consumption sites—are proven to save lives. Education and prevention programs work. Investing in treatment changes lives. The solutions are out there, and they work. We just need to care enough to implement them.
Stigma: The Barrier We Can Break
Let’s talk about stigma, because it’s one of the biggest barriers to change. Shame keeps people from asking for help. It silences families who are grieving. It distracts from real solutions by focusing on judgment instead of compassion. The good news? We can break that stigma, one conversation at a time.
Stories matter. People like Adam, whose memory inspired this project, remind us that substance use doesn’t define a person. Adam loved his family, had dreams, and brought joy to those around him. He was so much more than his struggles, just like every person lost to this crisis. By sharing their stories, we remind the world of their humanity. And we start to replace judgment with understanding.
What Needs to Happen Next
If we want to turn the tide, here’s what needs to happen:
Invest in Treatment: Make effective, evidence-based care affordable and accessible to everyone. No exceptions.
Focus on Prevention: Address mental health and trauma before substance use begins.
Support Harm Reduction: Programs that prioritize safety and dignity save lives. Period.
Decriminalize Substance Use: Let’s focus on recovery, not punishment.
Challenge Stigma: Speak out. Share stories. Educate others. Change the narrative.
Hope for the Future
This isn’t about giving up. It’s about stepping up. We can build a better system. We can create a world where no one is defined by their struggles alone. We can make sure families have support instead of judgment. We can ensure that people fighting substance use have the resources they need to recover and thrive.
The Adams Legacy Project is here because we believe in this brighter future. We believe in honoring lives, not just struggles. Together, we can replace stigma with compassion, and despair with hope. It starts with us, and it starts now.
