Whitney Houston Understood Her Addiction

In this interview with Oprah, Whitney Houston proves my point; that addicts have a disability when new to recovery. Clearly, Whitney describes how she was harassed by her own feelings about drugs. This is a disability. We have to start looking at people who are getting sober from addiction, as people who are handicapped. Addicts get better over the years but most of us heal slowly, which means it takes years not to feel the feelings Whitney is describing in this video.

I drafted the Addiction Rehabilitation and Protection Act, which recognizes people suffering from addiction, as people who should be protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act in their first two years of recovery.

Many addicts do not survive relapse. Call on your elected leaders to create laws that punish those who sell drugs to known addicts. Once an addict commits to rehab, that person is ready to let go of addiction. But really letting go takes years, not days. Keep drug dealers and unethical doctors away from vulnerable people trying to recover. We must draw the line if we want to save those we love.