I have seen a lot of people battle addiction, in one form or another. Personally, I have had moments in my life where I abused substances and have struggled to bring myself back to a good place.
Because I work at ABC 7 and Fox 22 in Bangor, I hear of so many drug busts and personal stories about the horrible opioid epidemic. It saddens me to think that so many people have died from a disease that is treatable. I feel every individual deserves the right to get the help they need to be able to live a fulfilling life.
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So many people out there have, perhaps unwittingly, made it more difficult for those with substance use disorders. Many feel they cannot say, “Hey, I have a problem,” because of the stigma society places on people with an addiction. If we can break down that feeling of dislike and “otherness,” maybe more people will say, “I need help.”
I am a 25-year-old father, husband and student of Full Sail University, where I’m earning a digital cinematography degree online. I made the mini-documentary above for school, but really it was something I had wanted to do for awhile. School was just the nudge I needed to do it.
The more people talk about addiction, I hope the more it will help people join together to fight this epidemic.
Sean Porter is a production assistant and weekend director at ABC 7 and Fox 22 in Bangor.