Some don’t have the ability. Look, I’m old and sober. Crusty, even. But for the person working on that first 30, 60, 90 days of getting clean and sober, that is just rude.

Drugs and alcohol tear families apart. I’ve seen the death, destruction, comas, court cases, hepatic encephalopathy, gout, armed cops at our detox door looking for someone who was on the run just trying to detox and try a better life, trafficked women give up to go back to pimps—all of it. I’ve seen it all. The mental health. I’ve seen people find Jesus. I’ve seen relapses kill again and again. I’ve been around since before Narcan.

So if you’re just getting your life back on track, know this: alcohol is the only thing people take offense to when you quit. It doesn’t mean you’re wrong, it means they are. Quit heroin and people thank god. Quit booze and they ridicule you. Keep on track. Sobriety is an honor gifted to the few who work for it day in day out. ☀️