I’m Katherine and I’m in long-term recovery with over 15 years of sobriety
recovery with over 15 years of sobriety
recovery with over 15 years of sobriety I met Susan when I tore to jail to learn
I met Susan when I tore to jail to learn
I met Susan when I tore to jail to learn about addiction in jails she was about
about addiction in jails she was about
about addiction in jails she was about to begin her prison term what Susan and
to begin her prison term what Susan and
to begin her prison term what Susan and I have in common is our addiction the
I have in common is our addiction the
I have in common is our addiction the disease of addiction is destroying lives
disease of addiction is destroying lives
disease of addiction is destroying lives families futures across every social and
families futures across every social and
families futures across every social and economic group in our country this year
economic group in our country this year
economic group in our country this year alone over 60,000 people will die of a
alone over 60,000 people will die of a
alone over 60,000 people will die of a drug overdose in the United States
drug overdose in the United States
drug overdose in the United States yes addiction is a disease scientists
yes addiction is a disease scientists
yes addiction is a disease scientists physicians and the US Surgeon General
physicians and the US Surgeon General
physicians and the US Surgeon General agree that addiction is a disease it’s a
agree that addiction is a disease it’s a
agree that addiction is a disease it’s a chronic brain disease that affects
chronic brain disease that affects
chronic brain disease that affects behavior Susan and I are like more than
behavior Susan and I are like more than
behavior Susan and I are like more than 20 million other people across our great
20 million other people across our great
20 million other people across our great nation who have the disease of drug or
nation who have the disease of drug or
nation who have the disease of drug or alcohol addiction back in the 1930s
alcohol addiction back in the 1930s
alcohol addiction back in the 1930s scientists began studying addictive
scientists began studying addictive
scientists began studying addictive behavior because people addicted to
behavior because people addicted to
behavior because people addicted to drugs and alcohol were thought to be
drugs and alcohol were thought to be
drugs and alcohol were thought to be morally flawed those views shaped
morally flawed those views shaped
morally flawed those views shaped society’s response to addiction treating
society’s response to addiction treating
society’s response to addiction treating it as a moral failure failure rather
it as a moral failure failure rather
it as a moral failure failure rather than a health problem which led to an
than a health problem which led to an
than a health problem which led to an emphasis on punishment rather than
emphasis on punishment rather than
emphasis on punishment rather than prevention and treatment alcohol
prevention and treatment alcohol
prevention and treatment alcohol addiction was declared disease by the
addiction was declared disease by the
addiction was declared disease by the American Medical Association way back in
American Medical Association way back in
American Medical Association way back in 1954 welcome to 2017 or addiction is
1954 welcome to 2017 or addiction is
1954 welcome to 2017 or addiction is still viewed by many as a lack of
still viewed by many as a lack of
still viewed by many as a lack of willpower or a character flaw and is
willpower or a character flaw and is
willpower or a character flaw and is amazingly approached with punishment
amazingly approached with punishment
amazingly approached with punishment rather than treatment in many community
rather than treatment in many community
rather than treatment in many community this punishment approach brings with it
this punishment approach brings with it
this punishment approach brings with it a powerful shame and stigma that
a powerful shame and stigma that
a powerful shame and stigma that influences our laws our services
influences our laws our services
influences our laws our services research care and support for people
research care and support for people
research care and support for people with the disease of addiction three
with the disease of addiction three
with the disease of addiction three words have deprived addicts of medical
words have deprived addicts of medical
words have deprived addicts of medical treatment empathy and compassion for
treatment empathy and compassion for
treatment empathy and compassion for decades or more like centuries shame
decades or more like centuries shame
decades or more like centuries shame stigma and discrimination the shame and
stigma and discrimination the shame and
stigma and discrimination the shame and stigma of being an alcoholic influenced
stigma of being an alcoholic influenced
stigma of being an alcoholic influenced my own decision to not seek treatment
my own decision to not seek treatment
my own decision to not seek treatment and to keep my disease hidden and I am
and to keep my disease hidden and I am
and to keep my disease hidden and I am not alone sadly only 1 in 10 people who
not alone sadly only 1 in 10 people who
not alone sadly only 1 in 10 people who need treatment for addiction actually
need treatment for addiction actually
need treatment for addiction actually seek treatment my drinking started in
seek treatment my drinking started in
seek treatment my drinking started in high school I knew as a teenager I
high school I knew as a teenager I
high school I knew as a teenager I didn’t drink like others I experienced
didn’t drink like others I experienced
didn’t drink like others I experienced my first blackout while in high school I
my first blackout while in high school I
my first blackout while in high school I struggled with alcohol related issues
struggled with alcohol related issues
struggled with alcohol related issues and episodes over the next 25 years I
and episodes over the next 25 years I
and episodes over the next 25 years I chose to live and work in cultures with
chose to live and work in cultures with
chose to live and work in cultures with excessive drinking I had no desire to
excessive drinking I had no desire to
excessive drinking I had no desire to attend events that didn’t have alcohol
attend events that didn’t have alcohol
attend events that didn’t have alcohol and I couldn’t imagine my life without
and I couldn’t imagine my life without
and I couldn’t imagine my life without alcohol I had a fairly successful life
alcohol I had a fairly successful life
alcohol I had a fairly successful life despite my constant struggle with my
despite my constant struggle with my
despite my constant struggle with my addiction and its impact on my career my
addiction and its impact on my career my
addiction and its impact on my career my family and my relationships but I could
family and my relationships but I could
family and my relationships but I could never reach my full potential with my
never reach my full potential with my
never reach my full potential with my addiction holding me back there came a
addiction holding me back there came a
addiction holding me back there came a time when I knew I needed to stop
time when I knew I needed to stop
time when I knew I needed to stop drinking but addiction is the powerful
drinking but addiction is the powerful
drinking but addiction is the powerful disease and it kept me drinking for many
disease and it kept me drinking for many
disease and it kept me drinking for many years I could achieve any goal I set for
years I could achieve any goal I set for
years I could achieve any goal I set for myself but I could not stop drinking
myself but I could not stop drinking
myself but I could not stop drinking even though I experienced many defeating
even though I experienced many defeating
even though I experienced many defeating demoralizing and
demoralizing and
demoralizing and baffling drunk episodes I thought I was
baffling drunk episodes I thought I was
baffling drunk episodes I thought I was insane I’d stop drinking for three
insane I’d stop drinking for three
insane I’d stop drinking for three months and then start again I’d stop for
months and then start again I’d stop for
months and then start again I’d stop for a year and then start drinking again and
a year and then start drinking again and
a year and then start drinking again and this happened for over a period of eight
this happened for over a period of eight
this happened for over a period of eight years I’m so grateful that my higher
years I’m so grateful that my higher
years I’m so grateful that my higher power kept asking me to pull on my boots
power kept asking me to pull on my boots
power kept asking me to pull on my boots and try again
and try again
and try again I finally became completely willing to
I finally became completely willing to
I finally became completely willing to do whatever it would take to get sober
do whatever it would take to get sober
do whatever it would take to get sober and when I became completely willing
and when I became completely willing
and when I became completely willing that’s when the miracle happened for me
that’s when the miracle happened for me
that’s when the miracle happened for me and I started staying sober I found a
and I started staying sober I found a
and I started staying sober I found a program that’s built on a foundation of
program that’s built on a foundation of
program that’s built on a foundation of gratitude helping others and a higher
gratitude helping others and a higher
gratitude helping others and a higher power and it changed my life I’ll
power and it changed my life I’ll
power and it changed my life I’ll forever be grateful to this program and
forever be grateful to this program and
forever be grateful to this program and its people for embracing me and helping
its people for embracing me and helping
its people for embracing me and helping me stay sober and it’s my sobriety and
me stay sober and it’s my sobriety and
me stay sober and it’s my sobriety and my role as first lady of North Dakota
my role as first lady of North Dakota
my role as first lady of North Dakota that has allowed me to shed light on
that has allowed me to shed light on
that has allowed me to shed light on this issue and visit firsthand those
this issue and visit firsthand those
this issue and visit firsthand those suffering and this is what I’ve learned
suffering and this is what I’ve learned
suffering and this is what I’ve learned the powerful the disease of addiction
the powerful the disease of addiction
the powerful the disease of addiction comes in many forms the disease of drug
comes in many forms the disease of drug
comes in many forms the disease of drug addiction has become a monster of
addiction has become a monster of
addiction has become a monster of gargantuan size with the opioid crisis
gargantuan size with the opioid crisis
gargantuan size with the opioid crisis these powerful drugs turn normal people
these powerful drugs turn normal people
these powerful drugs turn normal people into thieving conniving shells of who
into thieving conniving shells of who
into thieving conniving shells of who they once were and likely who they’ll
they once were and likely who they’ll
they once were and likely who they’ll never ever be again the brain chemistry
never ever be again the brain chemistry
never ever be again the brain chemistry are those addicted to opioids can be
are those addicted to opioids can be
are those addicted to opioids can be forever altered they may crave the drug
forever altered they may crave the drug
forever altered they may crave the drug for the rest of their lives opioid
for the rest of their lives opioid
for the rest of their lives opioid addiction starts for many when they are
addiction starts for many when they are
addiction starts for many when they are teenagers or adults with a doctor’s or a
teenagers or adults with a doctor’s or a
teenagers or adults with a doctor’s or a dentist prescription for pain medicine
dentist prescription for pain medicine
dentist prescription for pain medicine my niece was an all-state goalie in high
my niece was an all-state goalie in high
my niece was an all-state goalie in high school she injured her knee while
school she injured her knee while
school she injured her knee while playing hockey and was
playing hockey and was
playing hockey and was and pain medicine unbeknownst to me and
and pain medicine unbeknownst to me and
and pain medicine unbeknownst to me and her family she became addicted to
her family she became addicted to
her family she became addicted to opioids and she’s 23 now and I recently
opioids and she’s 23 now and I recently
opioids and she’s 23 now and I recently helped her find treatment for her
helped her find treatment for her
helped her find treatment for her addiction surprisingly one in four
addiction surprisingly one in four
addiction surprisingly one in four people addicted to opioids got their
people addicted to opioids got their
people addicted to opioids got their first pill from a doctor a friend or a
first pill from a doctor a friend or a
first pill from a doctor a friend or a relative 91 people died every day in the
relative 91 people died every day in the
relative 91 people died every day in the u.s. from an opioid overdose I met the
u.s. from an opioid overdose I met the
u.s. from an opioid overdose I met the parents of a boy who died of an opioid
parents of a boy who died of an opioid
parents of a boy who died of an opioid overdose in his car in a high school
overdose in his car in a high school
overdose in his car in a high school parking lot they were devastated by
parking lot they were devastated by
parking lot they were devastated by their son’s needless death however there
their son’s needless death however there
their son’s needless death however there was no one outpouring of community
was no one outpouring of community
was no one outpouring of community support like there would be for a
support like there would be for a
support like there would be for a teenager who died of cancer or in a car
teenager who died of cancer or in a car
teenager who died of cancer or in a car accident shame and stigma keep people
accident shame and stigma keep people
accident shame and stigma keep people away my friend Sheila knows the feeling
away my friend Sheila knows the feeling
away my friend Sheila knows the feeling of shame because her daughter has been
of shame because her daughter has been
of shame because her daughter has been addicted to heroin
addicted to heroin
addicted to heroin since she was 16 heroin is a cheaper
since she was 16 heroin is a cheaper
since she was 16 heroin is a cheaper Street version of an opioid drug Sheila
Street version of an opioid drug Sheila
Street version of an opioid drug Sheila told me recently that she called her
told me recently that she called her
told me recently that she called her daughter’s probation officer regularly
daughter’s probation officer regularly
daughter’s probation officer regularly hoping she would get arrested and sent
hoping she would get arrested and sent
hoping she would get arrested and sent to prison
to prison
to prison Sheila knew was the only way to save her
Sheila knew was the only way to save her
Sheila knew was the only way to save her daughter’s life
daughter’s life
daughter’s life Sheila’s daughter is now in prison
Sheila’s daughter is now in prison
Sheila’s daughter is now in prison Sheila knew that the only opportunity
Sheila knew that the only opportunity
Sheila knew that the only opportunity that her daughter would have for
that her daughter would have for
that her daughter would have for recovery was through medication assisted
recovery was through medication assisted
recovery was through medication assisted treatment but she was not able to get
treatment but she was not able to get
treatment but she was not able to get that treatment for many addicted to
that treatment for many addicted to
that treatment for many addicted to opioids or heroin their best hope for
opioids or heroin their best hope for
opioids or heroin their best hope for recovery and to live a normal life is
recovery and to live a normal life is
recovery and to live a normal life is medication assisted treatment
medication assisted treatment
medication assisted treatment medications may be taken daily for the
medications may be taken daily for the
medications may be taken daily for the rest of their lives to be able to live a
rest of their lives to be able to live a
rest of their lives to be able to live a normal life now I realize that the use
normal life now I realize that the use
normal life now I realize that the use of medication to treat addiction and
of medication to treat addiction and
of medication to treat addiction and help people reduce the
help people reduce the
help people reduce the cravings is controversial but I ask you
cravings is controversial but I ask you
cravings is controversial but I ask you to consider this this is similar to the
to consider this this is similar to the
to consider this this is similar to the disease of diabetes where insulin may
disease of diabetes where insulin may
disease of diabetes where insulin may need to be taken
need to be taken
need to be taken lifelong to keep diabetes in check to
lifelong to keep diabetes in check to
lifelong to keep diabetes in check to lead a healthy normal life addiction to
lead a healthy normal life addiction to
lead a healthy normal life addiction to methamphetamine is also destroying
methamphetamine is also destroying
methamphetamine is also destroying communities and families I know of a
communities and families I know of a
communities and families I know of a Native American tribal chairwoman who
Native American tribal chairwoman who
Native American tribal chairwoman who cared for her grandchild born addicted
cared for her grandchild born addicted
cared for her grandchild born addicted to meth the baby’s little hands were
to meth the baby’s little hands were
to meth the baby’s little hands were covered with tiny gloves to prevent her
covered with tiny gloves to prevent her
covered with tiny gloves to prevent her from scratching herself or pulling her
from scratching herself or pulling her
from scratching herself or pulling her hair out while going through meth
hair out while going through meth
hair out while going through meth withdrawal babies and children are the
withdrawal babies and children are the
withdrawal babies and children are the innocent victims of the devastation
innocent victims of the devastation
innocent victims of the devastation caused in our communities by untreated
caused in our communities by untreated
caused in our communities by untreated addiction many people addicted to drugs
addiction many people addicted to drugs
addiction many people addicted to drugs or alcohol end up in jail or prison
or alcohol end up in jail or prison
or alcohol end up in jail or prison because of addiction related crimes 65 %
because of addiction related crimes 65 %
because of addiction related crimes 65 % of people incarcerated in the US have an
of people incarcerated in the US have an
of people incarcerated in the US have an addiction and most of them need
addiction and most of them need
addiction and most of them need treatment and not incarceration during
treatment and not incarceration during
treatment and not incarceration during the past 30 years it was thought that
the past 30 years it was thought that
the past 30 years it was thought that more punishment meant less addiction
more punishment meant less addiction
more punishment meant less addiction addicts who are convicted of non-violent
addicts who are convicted of non-violent
addicts who are convicted of non-violent possession related crimes carry the
possession related crimes carry the
possession related crimes carry the extra burden and stigma of being a felon
extra burden and stigma of being a felon
extra burden and stigma of being a felon when they are released to a prison
when they are released to a prison
when they are released to a prison felons can’t find jobs they can’t find
felons can’t find jobs they can’t find
felons can’t find jobs they can’t find safe homes and in some states felons
safe homes and in some states felons
safe homes and in some states felons can’t live together in the same building
can’t live together in the same building
can’t live together in the same building this felony discrimination towards the
this felony discrimination towards the
this felony discrimination towards the disease of addiction perpetuates the
disease of addiction perpetuates the
disease of addiction perpetuates the cycle of addiction addiction is and
cycle of addiction addiction is and
cycle of addiction addiction is and should be viewed as a lifelong chronic
should be viewed as a lifelong chronic
should be viewed as a lifelong chronic disease like diabetes or heart disease
disease like diabetes or heart disease
disease like diabetes or heart disease 30 million children and adults in the US
30 million children and adults in the US
30 million children and adults in the US have diabetes in 2016
have diabetes in 2016
have diabetes in 2016 thirty-four million dollars was invested
thirty-four million dollars was invested
thirty-four million dollars was invested in research to find a cure the mission
in research to find a cure the mission
in research to find a cure the mission of the American Diabetes Association is
of the American Diabetes Association is
of the American Diabetes Association is to prevent and cure diabetes and to
to prevent and cure diabetes and to
to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected
improve the lives of all people affected
improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes think about this what if
by diabetes think about this what if
by diabetes think about this what if addiction could be viewed in our
addiction could be viewed in our
addiction could be viewed in our communities in the same way as diabetes
communities in the same way as diabetes
communities in the same way as diabetes and what if there was an American
and what if there was an American
and what if there was an American addiction association with this mission
addiction association with this mission
addiction association with this mission to prevent and cure addiction to love
to prevent and cure addiction to love
to prevent and cure addiction to love respect and care for all people in our
respect and care for all people in our
respect and care for all people in our communities affected by addiction
addiction needs to be treated and
addiction needs to be treated and embraced like any other chronic
embraced like any other chronic
embraced like any other chronic progressively fatal illness or disease
progressively fatal illness or disease
progressively fatal illness or disease before real changes can be made in our
before real changes can be made in our
before real changes can be made in our communities and before the shame and
communities and before the shame and
communities and before the shame and stigma can be eliminated this is my
stigma can be eliminated this is my
stigma can be eliminated this is my mission each and every day as an
mission each and every day as an
mission each and every day as an advocate and a recovering alcoholic I
advocate and a recovering alcoholic I
advocate and a recovering alcoholic I ask you to become advocates and bring
ask you to become advocates and bring
ask you to become advocates and bring your advocacy to the streets if you have
your advocacy to the streets if you have
your advocacy to the streets if you have an addiction start talking about it if
an addiction start talking about it if
an addiction start talking about it if you’re the caregiver of an addict
you’re the caregiver of an addict
you’re the caregiver of an addict have a child or loved one that has an
have a child or loved one that has an
have a child or loved one that has an addiction share this information with a
addiction share this information with a
addiction share this information with a person next to you today if you know
person next to you today if you know
person next to you today if you know someone who is suffering from alcohol
someone who is suffering from alcohol
someone who is suffering from alcohol meth or other or opioid or other
meth or other or opioid or other
meth or other or opioid or other addictions talk with them about it hug
addictions talk with them about it hug
addictions talk with them about it hug them every chance you get because they
them every chance you get because they
them every chance you get because they may not be there tomorrow
talking will remove the shame and the
talking will remove the shame and the stigma we can work together in every
stigma we can work together in every
stigma we can work together in every community and in every home to help save
community and in every home to help save
community and in every home to help save lives help those that have given up hope
lives help those that have given up hope
lives help those that have given up hope and help our communities start dreaming
and help our communities start dreaming
and help our communities start dreaming of the future again
of the future again
of the future again we are a nation in crisis and I stand
we are a nation in crisis and I stand
we are a nation in crisis and I stand here today asking all of you to help me
here today asking all of you to help me
here today asking all of you to help me lift the shame and stigma of addiction
lift the shame and stigma of addiction
lift the shame and stigma of addiction I’ll end with the saying from the Native
I’ll end with the saying from the Native
I’ll end with the saying from the Native American a jib way you cannot destroy
American a jib way you cannot destroy
American a jib way you cannot destroy one who is dreamed a dream like mine I’m
one who is dreamed a dream like mine I’m
one who is dreamed a dream like mine I’m dreaming of a bright future for our
dreaming of a bright future for our
dreaming of a bright future for our nation one where the American addiction
nation one where the American addiction
nation one where the American addiction Association has found a cure for
Association has found a cure for
Association has found a cure for addiction and where there is love
addiction and where there is love
addiction and where there is love support and kindness for people families
support and kindness for people families
support and kindness for people families and communities suffering from the
and communities suffering from the
and communities suffering from the disease of addiction thank you
[Music]
[Music] you
”
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