Pubdate: Mon, 03 Feb 2003
Source: Greensboro News & Record (NC)
Copyright: 2003 Greensboro News & Record, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.news-record.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/173
Author: Rebecca L. Wharton

SUBSTANCE ABUSERS DON'T ALL LOOK ALIKE

As a social work student at UNCG I have been exposed to several different 
volunteer experiences and populations of people. Substance abusers are a 
group of people that I never had much interest in studying until recently. 
Like many other people I had formed an opinion of what the "typical" 
alcoholic or drug abuser looks and acts like.

Because of a recent assignment I have begun to realize how wrong these 
stereotypes are. I had the chance to attend a Narcotics Anonymous meeting 
and there were people from every race, religion and economic background. I 
would have never imagined that the people sitting around me were substance 
abusers.

The purpose of this letter is to try to make people understand that these 
stereotypes need to be challenged and we need to learn to look at the faces 
of addiction and try to treat people like individuals.

Rebecca L. Wharton, Greensboro
- ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart