How does the Brandeis community think about addiction? What does the Brandeis community think about addicts? In this interview series, I will speak to a range of Brandeis community members about how they perceive addiction. I am still working out the kinks, so the first couple of posts may be formatted differently. I hope to provide a wide-range of views on addiction from people from a variety of backgrounds. The interviews will be anonymous, but I will include a short bio of the interviewee so that we can have an idea of where they are coming from socially.

This first interview was with a fellow midyear. As they mention, they come from a place where drugs are not a prevalent/visibly prevalent part of the community, but in private, the issue of addiction is still present. The ideas of this person ran pretty closely to the ideas of Surgeon General Murphy, and what seems like the latest research on addiction. Namely, that addiction is a disease that affects a wide range of people. Additionally, the interviewee reiterated various times that addicts are not morally deficient people. In summary, the interviewee answered the questions academically and almost scientifically rather than emotionally, as a person with experience with addiction might.

The interview:

What do you think about addiction?

There are a lot of connotations… My mind first goes to something not as volatile… cigarettes… and then to heroin, with no in-between. Those are the first things to come to mind.

Who are addicts?

The first image that comes to mind is of a 50 year old black man at a poetry slam who spoke powerfully about heroin addiction, and how it tore his family apart, and that it is usually family people rather than loners…

So when does it go from recreational use to addiction?

Addiction is a state where there are significant repercussions without it [a drug]. Like, if you take away the heroin you have to keep coming back to it.

How should we deal with addicts as a society?

So if we assume jail is for bad people, and addicts aren’t inherently bad people, then they shouldn’t go to jail. However, withdrawal is not a battle everybody can win, so maybe prison is a good way to force someone to avoid a drug. Then after, preventative treatment. Is it even society’s job to sober you up? If you present a danger to society then yes.