The Million-Person Challenge

Let's face it, we've all read and seen things on social media that would make etiquette expert Emily Post's head spin -- perhaps we've even been guilty of posting some egregious things ourselves, maybe when we've had a little too much caffeine or on a spontaneous whim that we realize was a mistake in hindsight. In today's world, it seems cool to overshare and bare it all. Sex, politics, religion -- everything that was once too taboo for public conversation is now open ground for all the world to see. Yet there remains a topic rarely shared without judgment, one that continues to face tremendous stigma: addiction. Admit it, when was the last time you had a favorable response to a post in which someone openly shared their turmoil with drug or alcohol addiction (not just the occasional late-night partying), or the plight of a loved one? Perhaps you have a connection who posts about it -- and receives their fair share of scoffing and criticism. Truth is, it's one subject that is still considered too embarrassing an admission to discuss openly, yet data indicates we all know someone who struggles with drinking or drugs. We're not talking (posting, sharing) about it and we're not getting the help we need. That leads me to wonder -- why not? In 2013, nearly 23 million Americans met diagnostic criteria for substance (drug or alcohol) abuse or dependence. And in that year, 2.5 million of them received treatment. That means that over 20 million Americans experienced enough sympto...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news