“Everything You Know About Addiction is Wrong.”
“The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection.”
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This TED talk, by Johann Hari, is fascinating and appears well-informed by such experts as Dr. Bruce Alexander and Dr. Gabor Maté. Having lived with addicted loved ones in my life, this talk resonates solidly for me. As addiction and mental illness often precipitate and exacerbate homelessness — and my research is looking at how to create a more inclusive, accepting community with those experiencing homelessness—it validates the need for what I am doing. We do need connections — not to things — but to people, to work, to purpose. When someone has to carry everything they own with them during the day, has no way to shower or prepare to meet the expectations of society, how can they feel that they belong.
“Belonging means more than just being seen. Belonging means being able to participate in the design of political, social, and cultural structures. Belonging means the right to contribute and make demands upon society and institutions.”
When no one will meet their eyes, when they are purposely unseen, how can those experiencing homelessness feel this critical sense of belonging?
