I stood in line at the quick-stop today, as I so often do. I was watching the person in front of me with the t-shirt that said ‘Every Addict Matters.’ On the counter, she and her friend had several bottles of liquor and some cigars. I chuckled. Well, for a second.
Then I looked down at my cup of coffee and my large iced tea (for later…don’t judge). And it occurred to me how addictions truly are legion. Some are just more acceptable than others.
People in healthcare are especially bad about this. We so easily judge our patients and their use of methamphetamine, cocaine, hallucinogens, alcohol and all the rest. Mind you, those substances cause terrible harm. But what’s happening, really, is people are looking for solace, distraction and in a very real way, anesthesia.
So what about us? I mean, go through the hospital and count the Starbucks cups, or the discarded cans of Monster Energy Drinks. Look at the K-cups, walk outside across to the parking lot and look at the staff smoking or vaping. When I was a medical student you could rest assured that the heart surgeons smoked on break. (Was it because nicotine helped them focus? Maybe…)
After the shifts, especially those stressful ones, it’s bourbon (the good stuff) or nice bottles of wine ‘so I can sleep.’ Or it’s the imported cigars.
But there’s more. When we are high achievers, we have different addictions. But they’re addictions to chaos and tragedy and excitement. It’s hard to imagine leaving it behind. And there’s an addiction to approval and achievement, to the next certification, the next project, the next leadership role.
For others there are addictions like issues, politics, culture, Twitter, Tik Tok, the list is long, and they ties us to our electronic devices for frequent hits to keep us going through the difficult days.
All of this takes a toll on our health (physical, emotional and spiritual), and on our families, as surely as illicit drugs do to our patients. It may not be as shocking. It may even be seen as somehow acceptable. It may take longer to manifest and it may not result in death or jail. But none of our addictions are really benign, are they?
Don’t get me wrong. It’s probably better to use a lot of coffee than meth. Better to achieve than soak your pain in alcohol. Probably.
Make no mistake, though, that addictions are legion, like the demons Jesus cast out of the man in the tombs.
To the extent that they are all ways of filling empty places in our hearts, we need to be aware of what we’re doing.
And we should be compassionate towards those who take their addictions into dangerous places; and whose wounds are much deeper than needle tracks.
Edwin
Excellent job! Everyone needs to read this and take a look in the mirror. Life is hard and short in the scheme of things. Make it your best.
Compassion takes no effort but why do we choose condemnation? Keep reminding us, Dr. Leap, how we should walk in His ways rather than the worlds.