Why are conversations about addiction still ‘taboo’? | Omri Morris | TEDxVCU

Key Concepts

• Addiction as a Disease: Addiction is presented not as a moral failing, but as a disease impacting the brain and body, characterized by compulsive behavior despite harmful consequences.
• Recovery as Possible: The speaker emphasizes the possibility of long-term recovery and a fulfilling life after addiction and mental illness.
• Peer Recovery Support: The role of Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS) in providing support and demonstrating recovery’s attainability.
• “Recovering Out Loud”: The act of openly sharing one’s recovery journey to reduce stigma, foster connection, and inspire hope.
• Trauma & Self-Medication: The connection between past traumas, low self-esteem, and the initial use of substances to numb emotional pain.
• DSM-5 Criteria for Substance Use Disorder: The clinical definition of addiction as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition.

The Power of Visibility: A Journey Through Addiction, Mental Illness, and Recovery

This presentation details Amry Morris’s personal journey through addiction, mental illness, and ultimately, long-term recovery, advocating for open discussion and support within the recovery community. The core message centers on the power of “recovering out loud” – openly sharing lived experience to dismantle stigma and offer hope.

Early Life and the Roots of Addiction

Amry recounts a childhood marked by low self-esteem and a deep desire for acceptance. This vulnerability led to experimentation with substances – cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs – initially disliked but eventually used as a coping mechanism to numb emotional pain stemming from hardships, traumas, rejections, and past memories. She describes a state where being “chunker high” was necessary for basic functioning: eating, sleeping, socializing, even attending classes at VCU. The speaker explicitly states that she never wanted to become addicted, highlighting the insidious nature of the disease.

Hitting Bottom and Seeking Help

On May 6, 2013, at age 21, Amry experienced a critical turning point. Drug and alcohol dependence had cost her everything – money, time, family, relationships, schooling, and ultimately, her identity. This culminated in a suicide attempt via drug overdose. Two days later, she made the “life-changing decision” to enter a 30-day rehabilitation center. This moment is framed not as a failure, but as a courageous step towards recovery.

Understanding Addiction: A Clinical Perspective

The rehabilitation program provided Amry with a crucial understanding of addiction as a disease. She references the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition) definition of Substance Use Disorder, emphasizing the clinically significant impairment caused by recurrent substance use, leading to health problems, disability, and failures to meet responsibilities. The speaker identifies with the DSM-5 criteria, specifically the inability to control substance use once initiated and the intense desire for freedom from obsession.

The Path to Sustained Recovery

Amry details the ongoing work required to maintain sobriety, including one-on-one therapy, participation in recovery support meetings, rebuilding family relationships, and forming new connections within the recovery community. She also emphasizes the importance of proper medication for maintaining mental health. She proudly states having over 11 years of “happy, joyous, and free” living.

“Recovering Out Loud” and its Impact

A central theme is the concept of “recovering out loud” – openly sharing her experiences with addiction and mental illness. Amry describes a “rush of radical self-acceptance and love” experienced when she first shared her story, a feeling she had previously sought unsuccessfully in substances. This openness created a safe space for others to share their struggles, fostering connection and hope. She frames this as shifting the focus from the “sickness” to the “recovery from the sickness.”

The Role of a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS)

Amry’s experience led her to become a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS). According to the Virginia Certification Board, a CPRS is an individual with lived experience in recovery who shares that experience to inspire hope in others. They also connect individuals with relevant recovery resources. Amry highlights the value of this role, stating it allows her to utilize her most painful experiences as her greatest assets. She initially worked in clinical settings before joining Rams and Recovery at VCU.

Rams and Recovery at VCU: A Collegiate Recovery Program

Rams and Recovery is described as a collegiate recovery program offering a physical space and a range of services to support students in recovery from addiction and mental illness. These services include recovery housing, peer recovery coaching, educational seminars, trips, and community-building dinners.

Practical Ways to Support the Recovery Community

Amry provides actionable steps for allies to support the recovery community:

• Carry Recovery Resources: Maintain a list of local treatment modalities and support meetings.
• Offer Support: Be willing to accompany someone seeking help.
• Wear Supportive Symbols: Utilize stickers or pins to signal safety and openness.
• Carry Narcan: Have access to the life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses.
• Share Your Pronouns & Recovery Status: Amry models this by introducing herself as “Amry Morris, she/her pronouns, and a black queer mom in recovery.”

Conclusion: A Call to Action

Amry concludes by emphasizing that “recovering out loud” is a life-saving practice, promoting vigilance, authenticity, and sustained well-being. She acknowledges the healing power of the audience’s willingness to listen and learn. The presentation ends with a powerful call to action: “Changing the narrative about addiction, mental illness, recovering out loud… it starts with you. Let’s recover out loud together.”