As a nation, we are at a crossroads, wrestling with the painful reality of a drug epidemic. Virtually everyone is touched by this crisis, whether it is parents struggling to shield their kids, friends grieving over the loss of a loved one, or the individual themselves staggering on the path to recovery, or still in the grip of addiction. My story, much like yours, is one of a painful struggle against addiction and the pursuit of sobriety. Every person deserves the chance to recover and rebuild their lives.

Each year thousands of individuals brave the arduous journey to sobriety (NIDA, 2019). However, we’re seeing efforts undermined by law enforcement officials using past substance abuse as a tool of antagonization, derailing progress towards sobriety. A barrier which threatens the chance of leading a drug-free life.

Every one of our lives have been touched by addiction whether we realize it or not. Many of us know first hand the difficult struggle with addiction and sobriety. Where,  At any moment, the devil might  show up to steer you off your path waving a bag of cocaine in your face. The barriers to sobriety are hard enough without the devil actually turning out to be the very people we pay to protect us. To serve us. These narcotics officers are preying on our loved ones, our families and friends. Taking advantage of their weaknesses and keeping sobriety out of reach just for their own job security and another notch in the belt. As a society, should we not strive to help our fellow members who are fighting their way out of the clutches of addiction? It is a matter of public health and welfare to inhibit any actions that hinder whatever progress these individuals are making.

An estimated 21 million Americans (SAMHSA, 2019) suffer from at least one addiction, yet only one in ten gets treatment. There is a pressing need to address this not as a shameful secret, but as a public crisis requiring systematic intervention and lasting solutions.

Therefore, I implore you to join me in advocating for our brothers and sisters in recovery. We need legislation that protects the path to sobriety, rather than obstructs it. Our message is clear - we want law enforcement officials to be a support to those in recovery, not a stumbling block. Sign the petition. Support transformation because every life matters, and sobriety should be our #1 goal.