April is Alcohol Awareness Month, which gives a chance for organizations to shine a light on the issues that alcohol can cause, and continue to break the stigma and shame surrounding alcohol misuse. At Kennedy Street, our priority is recovery, not just addiction, and we want to celebrate those who have found lasting recovery from alcohol addiction, and share the benefits recovery can have.
March is Women’s History Month, and we have celebrated International Women’s Day once again!
This is a celebration to highlight the incredible work of women throughout history who fought for equality and an opportunity to continue this fight to #BreakTheBias that we still see in our society today.
At Kennedy Street, we want to do the same for women in recovery.
I had my first drink at about the age of 8, a Babycham taken from the fridge without my parents knowing, until the following day by finding the empty bottle in the bin. I remember the feeling of that alcohol to this day.
For many people who have begun to follow Kennedy Street’s journey, you may be someone who’s simply doing your supportive Facebook friend duty by ‘liking’ the page, but without any, or little, idea of what we’re about. For others, you’ll be aware of us and the work we’re doing. I hope our hard work will become clearer as the weeks and months go on, through hilarious, whimsical and thought provoking posts and updates (we’ll do our best).
The word “cheers”, the clinking of glasses, the swish of alcohol, the insipid smiles on faces in preparation for celebration is something I cannot connect with or relate to. I see no joy in using alcohol to ‘celebrate’ anything anymore. Far from it. Alcohol is a mind-altering substance, why would you actively change that natural high for the false, fake promises that alcohol delivers? It masks and disguises the beautiful, natural, heartfelt feelings we are so blessed to have without having to lift a finger. Living my whole life with addiction, initially through a loved one and then becoming a hopeless addict myself, after reading this, you may see why I have a cold shudder that runs through to my core every time I hear that word, “cheers”.
