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Many high-flying trapeze artists operate with a safety net even as they perform their death defying stunts way up in the air to the thrill of an enchanted crowd below. Thus should a wrong move or a slip send them hurtling to the ground, the net is waiting to safely cusshion their fall.

Alcoholics and other drug addicts in recovery realise that they have a chronic, relapsing disease. What this means is that though incurable, it can be managed through abstinence from the drug of choice be it alcohol, heroin, cannabis, prescription pills etc. But it is also a relapsing disease which means at any one time for a variety of reasons they can find themselves picking a drinking or using again. In the parlance of receovery, this is what is known as a 'slip'.

Those in recovery have also come to realise that there is literally safety in numbers and that another addict will understand them more than even family members ever can. For the basic reason they share the same disease. It is easier to empathise completely.

Challenges are however even harder for those who choose to create outreach by going public espcially through a wide-reaching vehicle such as the print and electronic media.

Often there are unscrupulous journalists or media houses who for reasons of pursuing higher sales or revenues use sensationalism instead of actually passing the message the addict in recovery is seeking to pass. Yet many others do this simply out of ignorance when it comes to issues of chemical dependency.

The goinghomedotcom Trust being mainly a media non-governmental organisation (NGO) has therefore set up a network of recovering alcoholics and other drug addicts as well as those who became HIV positive by way of alcohol or other drug use and who have expressed a desire to go public where they will recieve advice and tips on how to go about this safetly and effectively without adverse effect to them or their oved ones.

They will be introduced to journalists and media houses who are sensitive to the fact that stigma is still a large part of drug addiction and HIV/AIDS and who at the same time are reasonably well-versed with the issue at hand.

Being a recovering alcoholic as well as a journalist and producer, I know only too well the anguish I have gone through at the hands of some of my media colleagues after first going public in 2001. Distorted stories, in both the print and electronic media complete denial that alcoholism is a disease, stigma all are issues which cropped up with numbing regularity.

The Network or "The Net" as it is better known will also serve as a safety net for those who face increased challenges as a result of going public especially if they 'slip' and pick up a drink or use.

The challenges caused by going public are immense for due to the still widely prevalent stigma many people will automatically look at you differently once you openly admit to being an addict. I still vividly rember one 'friend' who I met shortly after leaving the rehabilitation centre.

He greeted me heartily and noted that he hadn't seen me around for a while. I told him that I had been up-country working on a project (very true, project was my sobriety). I next met the fellow shortly after going public in the Saturday Nation and he couldn't get away from me fast enough. he did not even shake my hand giving some excuse about being in a rush.

After this happened two more times with different people I realisedf that it was not a coincidence but stigma. In fact it is almost as if people feel it is contagious and by coming into contact with you say through a handshake, they will aslo become 'infected'

Having a support group of those committed to this form of outreach is imperative so that the correct messages are given out in the awareness.

When we tell our stories we are mirrors to those en-route to addiction and caution signs to those who would start. As I have said in numerous articles our stories will fight stigma, misinformation, myth and fear and thus help many alcoholics and other drug addicts into treatment. Many now die as families wallow in the mud of denial a lot of whihc is due to the stigma surrounding alcohol and other drug addiction.

People need to know it is simply a disease and that there is a way out and that there is life, abundant life, after addcition.

This is the message of "The Net" in keeping with the motto of the goinghomedotcom Trust of going out into the community and Touching lives through inspiration.

David Ogot snr.
Founder/Programmes Director,
goinghomedotcom Trust,
Office tel: +254 20 2738118 cell phone +254 733-989083,
Website: www.goinghomekenya.org,
email: goinghomedotcom@yahoo.com,
P.O. Box 870 Uhuru Gardens 00517,
Nairobi,
KENYA.
January 2003

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