Recover Out Loud, Social Media, & Confidentiality
I'm a freelance writer for several businesses in the addiction recovery niche. I manage social media for several clients. Recently I've used several images of celebrities who are in recovery as a means of giving inspiration and hope that recovery is possible to this audience I write too.
Is it wrong?
Well, of course, you know my answer is no it is not because I do it. I follow rules of copyrighted images by giving credit to owners of the digital content, quote the words directly from other sources, and present the content tastefully.
I still receive comments such as "What happened to laws of confidentiality?" or "Why do you use another's hardship and struggle to boost your engagement?"
Before I answer these questions, I'd first like to thank these people publicly for engaging with my content. I always let these comments slide by without replying, but I feel maybe I should start. But it's not my content to engage haters, stigma, or those who chose to leave recovery underground hidden from public view.
The most straightforward answer is these people have already chosen to recover out loud and are transparent about their recovery and how recovery has improved their lives.
The more I think whether I should respond to comments like these because it will help others who feel the same way to understand the power in sharing another's experience, strength, and hope.
The point is I don't just recognize the hard work of celebrities in recovery. I acknowledge everyone who goes to bed sober each day from the homeless man on the streets to Robert Downey Jr. Each man has his own story, his own path in recovery, and is cause for celebration.
Finding and interviewing a homeless man who is working a program of recovery is difficult. I know it is possible because I got sober while living in a squat "homeless, alone, hungry, and cold" and celebrated the first 3 years of my sobriety, panhandling on the corner of Pine and Broadway, in NYC.
I used to believe it was harder for a man to get sober when he had nothing left in the world than a banker, rockstar, or celebrity, ya know a member of the bourgeoisie. But my thinking has changed because I have a better understanding of addiction. Everyone living a life of recovery, whether they are rich or poor have one day or 7k days sober has their own demons and reasons why drugs or alcohol have created hell and chaos in their life.
The difference is society at large and the news. The news enjoys letting the world know when a celebrity falls from grace. For instance, Demi Lovato's recent accidental overdose was on every major network social media newsfeed in minutes following the tragic accident.
Today, social media is swarming with what is called "The Overdose video." Videos of those suffering accidental overdoses in public have become viral posts for society to laugh and ridicule. These videos increase the stigma surrounding my community-the recovery community.
So why is it vital to use images of celebrities who are recovering out loud in social media?
Because it's
- A selfless act which brings hope and inspiration to the recovery community.
- An illustration of hard work, community, sober support, and honesty
- Broadcasts the story of triumph, persistence, and victory over addiction in a brief moment in time.
- Weakens the stigma surrounding addiction recovery
- A testimony that recovery is possible
My answer to questions concerning why I break confidentiality is because it works.
The best way to remove the stigma surrounding the recovery community is to meet it head-on. Hiding in the shadows and being secretive about your process for recovery is easy and gives you a way out. If no one knows your working a program of addiction recovery then it's okay to slip in a drink every now and again, right?
But when you're recovering on Page 1 of the NY Times that drink is much harder to swallow.
When you know that Nikki Sixx, Robert Downey Jr, Demi Lovato, Charlie Sheen, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and all the Faces and Voices in Recovery are living life in recovery - proud and out loud it is easier for you to draw on the strength and support of the community.
When the post I write for social media using an image and quote from Jamie Lee Curtis inspires just one member of my community's recovery or makes the next minute, hour, or day pass without craving for another it's a success.
How do you feel about sharing images with quotes of celebrities on social media especially after these members of our community have been transparent about their recovery?