Something I think about often is how the media portrays alcoholism & alcoholics. So many times they& #39;ve broadcast scenes of incapacitated people, those who lost their sight, people going to great lengths for a drink, like a spectre for comic relief w/o really addressing the issue.

They never stop to mention that alcoholism is a debilitating disease that is highly prevalent in our society, share warning signs of alcoholism, or offer any information on treatment, because the only purpose that they see drunkards serving, is to provide a good laugh.

It& #39;s not entirely the media& #39;s fault; growing up, mentally ill or addicted persons were used as cautionary tales - examples of how you could end up if you didn& #39;t do well in school. Society has chosen to see it as a moral issue, treating addiction solely as a result of bad choices.

And while poor decision making does play a role, it is a far more complex issue that requires the right kind of attention. Our society loves to kick people when they& #39;re down, and it& #39;s exhausting, honestly..

Man, I& #39;ll never forget the day there was a whole news piece about "village drunkards" in Meru who were drinking illicit brew from a ditch. One of those people was my uncle, who struggled with alcoholism all his life. He died. That was the last image I& #39;ll ever have of him.

That, and the laughter. I& #39;ll never forget the laughter of that crowd.