Remove Addiction’s Stigma, for Chris’ Sake

By Ginny Atwood

Seven months ago my little brother took an accidentally fatal dose of heroin. He was only 21. He had been an addict for six long years, but he was so much more than that. 

Christopher Atwood was a beloved son and friend. A shoulder to cry on. A dog lover, world traveler, and hopeless romantic. His sense of humor and huge smile were the envy of all. But his greatest gift was helping people, from lifting you up on a bad day to even saving a young man's life on the floor of a church bathroom. He was my brother. He was my best friend. But addiction stole him from me.  

This didn’t happen to my family simply because Christopher was “weak-willed.” Actually, he was one of the strongest people I knew. I watched him struggle to stay clean for years, only to have addiction grip him again. Drug and alcohol dependence has devastated too many lives to chalk it up purely to bad choices or lack of will. No, addiction is a powerful and complicated force that grips the minds and bodies of people from all walks of life -- the homeless, the mentally ill, star athletes, CEOs.   

Yet there is a dangerous stigma placed on addiction that discourages so many people from getting the help they need. Lack of understanding what addiction really is keeps this stigma alive, and in many ways makes it just as dangerous as the disease itself. The substance says to addicts, “You will never be free from me, you need me,” while the stigma says “You’re a bad person. You don’t deserve help.”  

Stigma reduced a wonderful person like my brother Chris into nothing more than a “junkie” in the eyes of others – even to himself. This misconception shames addicts into hiding their problem, in some cases until it’s too late.  

Science is just beginning to unravel how addiction works. We know that it involves brain chemistry, genetics, choices, personality and the fact that substances affect us all differently -- some more strongly than others. Just as some people have peanut allergies, others are hardwired for addiction. One thing is clear – this doesn’t mean that you are a bad person. It means you are human and you need help. 

The shame and secrecy push down so many good people struggling with addiction, but we have the power to lift them up. The stigma shuns, but love heals. Recovery from addiction is not easy, and recovering addicts need all the love and support they can get. So in honor of September as National Recovery Month, reach out to someone you know struggling with addiction, or please consider donating to an organization that supports recovery.

Addiction stole my brother’s life, but it will never steal his spirit. It’s been said that you only really keep what you give away, so in order for my family to hold on to Christopher’s amazing spirit, we have decided to share it with others. We have started the Chris Atwood Foundation, in his name, to help addicts and their families battle this misunderstood disease, and if we can, to prevent this tragedy from repeating itself.

We understand that recovery from addiction is a lifelong journey. A marathon, not a sprint. So to prove my dedication to this cause and to raise money for it, I am running the Marine Corps Marathon in Christopher’s honor on Oct. 27, along with my cousin, two of my best friends, and two of Christopher’s friends from the recovery community. Lives are being lost, but there is something we can do about it. 

Please visit www.stayclassy.org/goteamchris to learn more and/or to make a donation. 

Ginny Atwood is the co-founder and secretary of the nonprofit Chris Atwood Foundation and a member of the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County.

The Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County is a nonprofit organization with more than 50 community partners working together to keep youth and young adults safe and drug-free. Visit www.unifiedpreventioncoalition.org and www.facebook.com/unifiedpreventioncoalition. Follow the group on Twitter at www.twitter.com/keepyouthsafe.