Opioid addiction

I read the article in The Spokesman-Review Feb. 4, “More health care workers dying from opioids,” and was once again disheartened at the anemic approach to the painful burden of addiction affecting families, communities and the country.

This issue has many layers. As Chuck Rosenberg, head of the DEA, stated “We have to change the culture. And I’ve said this many times publicly: We’re not going to enforce or prosecute or incarcerate our way out of this problem………”

Recognizing that we live in a violent culture, with its emphasis of insult, aggrandizing, lying and name-calling, is the tip of the iceberg that underlies the pain of addiction.

To point the finger at prescribers is a veneer that shortchanges the deeper look at “seeking.” Seeking help from pain — cultural, social, psychological and physical pain. It’s difficult to talk about addiction, whomever the addict is, as addiction is the great trickster. Just try stopping your own addiction whether it be to sugar, working, working out, gossiping, etc. Identify it for what it is and stop it and then share your experience. To whom would you turn to share your own story?

Elizabeth Cobbs

Spokane