I am the Director of Marketing here at Vertava Health. I manage the team that is responsible for everything you read and see that pertains to our brand. Our work here is designed to do three key things. Educate, inform and compel action. Maybe that action is to call us. Maybe it’s to call another treatment center. Maybe your action is really just for the first time realizing that you have a problem. Or maybe the action is to finally confront your family member. We just want you to do something that might help make a positive change. So I sat down to write a blog for April Fool’s Day that would compel action. How do I tie a silly day of trickery and pranks to drug and alcohol addiction? The answer is I can’t. Because drug and alcohol addiction is not funny. I ran through scenario after scenario with my team. “Maybe it’s we say there’s a ridiculous new illegal drug out there and call it a weird name and then, April Fool’s!” Terrible idea. There are new drugs out there every day each one as dangerously addictive as the last. The names don’t matter – the effect does. Try again. “Maybe we announce that a Zombie Apocalypse is really happening and then April Fool’s it’s heroin addiction?” Goodness. That is one of the worst ideas we have ever had. It may have actually been my idea but I’ll pretend it was a team effort. That one is offensive and inappropriate. Those addicted to heroin may have some zombie-like tendencies when high – but they are people’s babies, husbands, wives, mothers etc– in other words this is someone’s very dear loved one. This person should not be reduced to something inhuman. They are lost souls who should be saved. “Maybe we say there’s a new study out that says your dog and cat can get addicted to prescription drugs! April Fool’s!” Eh. That one is just stupid. It’s not funny and it’s not educational or compelling. There is SO much information out there about drugs and addiction. It’s hard enough to figure out which end is up when it’s someone you care deeply about that is struggling with addiction. This one isn’t going to work either. Then I realized we were wasting our time and were potentially about to waste yours. Look – it’s Spring. It’s Easter. It’s time to renew. It’s time to begin again. If you’re reading this it’s highly likely you are the one struggling or that it’s someone you hold dear. Let me help you. Let us help you. Drugs and alcohol are tearing you down. Let us build you up again. Read some of these blogs if you’re not convinced. There really is a light at the end of the tunnel. And that is no April Fool’s joke.
Who is the Fool when it comes to Addiction?
