What do you wish others knew about OUD?
There are plenty of misconceptions out there about opioid use disorder. What's something you wish people understood about the condition, or your personal experience living with it?
In active addiction, it wasn't that drugs became more important than my family. It's more that it became like the air we breathe. You must have air first, before you can do anything else. It was a legit "need" to function in any capacity.
Wow, thank you for sharing this perspective. This is such a good analogy, and I really think it will help others understand what it's like to live with an addiction. It shows that addiction isn't a choice or a weakness, it's a profound struggle. We appreciate you being so open with us. -Jessica, Team Member
It's a disease, not a choice! People don't grow up with the idea of wanting to be addicted to anything, just like other diseases, it isn't a choice!!!
Absolutely! OUD is a complex medical condition, not a personal failure. So many people still don’t understand that addiction can be influenced by many factors, such as genetics, environment, and mental health, just like other chronic diseases. -Jessica, Team Member 
This is something I wish more people knew as well. OUD affects people from many different walks of life. None of those who wanted to develop OUD. A lot has change over the years but we are still fighting stigma daily.
