I include myself in those who think we
understand or know about mental illness but are really only slightly aware of
the enormity of the problem and the suffering it entails. Much of the “crime”
associated with drug and alcohol abuse is efforts at self-treatment—that is,
stopping the pain.
If I had understood the level of Andrew’s
suffering, would I have lobbied for him to be given a prescription for
OxyContin to help him manage the pain of schizophrenia? I was so concerned
about him becoming addicted that I did not really even begin to contemplate the
other side of his conundrum.
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