‘Get Well or Die’: A State Senator Reveals His Addiction Battle

Thank you, Mr. Harckham. Your willingness to discuss your own battle with addiction and your success in overcoming it makes you both relatable and inspirational. We need to first work to remove the stigma of addiction and then work together for practical solutions. For our family, it is too late to save our precious daughter who succumbed to an opioid overdose. But it is not too late for others. I will continue to do what I can to challenge people to educate themselves on addiction which will foster empathy and then action. 

All that, and moving to legalize marijuana. Perfect. As a sober man myself, I know unequivocally, pot IS a gateway (leftists harumph all you want). Not many addicts go straight from a beer to crack. But by all means, let's get lazy on drugs. #Stupid

Thank you

Bravo Senator Harckham, While we must always be alert to problems of opioid addiction, we must never forget the problems of cocaine, meth, alcohol (by far the most common) and cigarettes. Some people have intractable pain that only responds to opioids. Once they show they can use it responsibly, their access to it should be monitored, but not eliminated.

I too am in recovery, for 33 years, (ironically) and am 57 years old. I however do not agree that the legality of Marijuana is ok. The very smell of pot, is not a trigger per say to me, but if there’s a liquor store, I can choose to not go past, if I’m feeling as such. But, over the past 5 years or so, I smell pot more and more, in the streets. Not too long ago, I had to stop, from walking behind someone, due to their excessive pot smoking, you know, there is such a thing as contact high, I cannot get that from someone drinking a beer next to me in a football stadium. So I am expected to be on the look out for someone smoking pot, walking down the street? Really? This is all about money. Revenue from pot sales have been a boon to states, so instead of doing their jobs and managing our tax money, legislators would rather take the easy way, and create new tax roles....no matter the cost! Due to This and many more reasons, I’m getting out of NY as fast as possible. Good luck, in ten years, the jails will be empty and the streets won’t be safe. History will repeat itself...here come the 70’s!

Like Mr. Harckham, I had to realize that I was living a lie. The lie was I was well and healthy and I "told" this lie every day to my friends, family and me. Once you are lying to yourself on a minute to minute basis, you are essentially dead. Mr. Harckham hit his bottom and became true to himself. Once you are true to yourself and start to like who you truly are, then you can "live" again. Religious, political and cultural differences are easily breached when there is the commonality of recovery between folks.

The senator and others interested in fighting stigma might like to check out this cool project: The Opioid Project: Changing Perceptions Through Art and Storytelling. theopioidproject.oncell.com

I wish the state of Louisiana understood this. They (and most people) think someone is weak or lacks willpower. This is not the case. Whatever drug (including alcohol) you take, 1 person out of every 10 who does "use" has a very different chemical reaction in their brain than the other 9 people. In layman's terms, a chemical is released which raises the levels of "what makes you feel good". Multiply this by 1000 and you have an idea of what I mean: Injecting very strong opiates simultaneously with pure cocaine (aka: a "speedball") feels like an orgasm, shooting a machine gun, "redlining" a Ferrari: all at the same, only better. This is a deadly combination of chemicals. It's the same one that killed John Belushi, Heath Ledger, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and so many other people I knew. I have overdosed from this many times. The last time, I knew I had overdosed; badly. Within seconds, I (intentionally) threw myself down 30 stairs, crawled out onto the sidewalk, hoping someone would see me and call 911 (this was in Manhattan). People did call 911. I lost my sight; then my heart stopped. In the ambulance, a defibrillator was used many times (I was "clinically dead" for over 2 minutes). I regained conciousness and sight. Even though I owned a successful company; and was making a lot of money and had a loving, brilliant, beautiful wife and an equally brilliant, gorgeous daughter and 2 homes, none of that mattered. I lost all but my life. I wish this state understood: They don't.

Deep admiration for Senator Harckham for exposing this aspect of his life. Shining the light on addiction and showing that people can go on to live productive lives is uplifting.

Having worked as a part of a well known hospital's in-patient psychiatric team in the Bay Area, in the my earlier career as an occupational therapist, I can attest to the fact that substance abuse and addictive disorders respects no social-economic boundaries or levels of accomplishments. We, in fact, in our clinic often worked with lawyers, politicians, accountants, hedge fund managers and clergy of all religions. And yes, they went to the same groups and individual counseling sessions as did the other patients in our facility, that worked with their hands to make a living. One thing however though that almost everyone of our patients would mention in our sessions together, was how difficult it was for them to deal with the stigma of admitting that they had an addiction problem. In fact in many cases, they would admit that the stigma and fear of humiliation prevented them from asking for help from friends or family members or seeking earlier professional help. I came away from my years working in an in-patient mental health setting thinking that perhaps we, as a society, are contributing to the spread of addictive disorders by not making it easier and more acceptable for the individual to ,early on, seek help with this type of illness (as we do with physical illnesses- Like cancer, heart disease or virulent viruses).

remember when it was a "moral failure", a "lack of character" and a "sign of weakness" when people took prozac for depression, and were told to grit their teeth and "snap out of it"? we're chemical by nature; chemistry is what we are. some chemicals are good for our health and well being, some are bad, and what decides which is which depends on the chemistry we inherited from our family tree.

Thank you, thank you Mr. Harckham. I'm way down here in Texas, but I hope your leadership proves to be a nationwide model. Those of us whose lives have been touched by addiction understand its complexity and poignancy. Your honesty, and the honesty of others in similar positions, can help lead us toward more compassionate and thoughtful policies. Much gratitude.

Peter, I voted for you in the last election. After this article you have my and my families vote in the future as well. This is a very important issue. The way our legal system treats people with addiction is shameful. We need to provide support for them to help the with rehab and being reintroduced into society to get meaningful jobs. Many have to plead to felonies for drug or alcohol related crimes and this makes it impossible to get jobs after they have gone through rehab. With the right support they could be productive tax paying members of our communities instead of in and out of jail at tax payer expense. Our legal system makes it nearly impossible to dig your way out once you have been arrested for drug or alcohol related crimes. We need to offer rehab and not jail.

I have almost the same story as Mr Harckham although I moved all the way across the country and lived in a program for 2 years! I have much respect for Harckham and glad he'she's government! We need more people like him if we're going to make a dent in fighting the opioid epidemic and then helping people rise from the ashes

Mr. Harckham is what integrity looks like. Washington (especially the Republican Senate): take note.

Bravo! Inspiring story well told. Especially the part where they admit not everyone can be saved. I raised my kids to fight racism, sexism, anti-semitism, ageism etc., knowing they never win, but to fight every day.

Great to speak out about addiction! Good to show it can happen to anyone

"stigma". How many lives have been ruined over stigma. How many people sit in jail because of stigma. If people have weaknesses they should be helped. We know what a healthy society could look like. Mr Harckham does too. Go Dems! Sadly, the stigma spreading in Washington DC is coming from the one man who needs help the most - the POTUS

Boy, do I wish Senator Harckham well and thank him for speaking up! Trump* has just issued his wish-list for his Republican Budget. He proposes a budget of $4.8 TRILLION DOLLARS with CUTS that came to $4.4 TRILLION DOLLARS over the next 10 years. Half of those cuts come from "safety net programs and student loan initiatives". I understand that you are are a State of New York Senator, but know that those cuts in the "safety net" will impact opioid funding and training in every state. I hope, sir, that you'll keep your eyes on this. Well fought, sir!

for Pete's sake, just legalize it already and shut off the money pump for the legal-prison-enforcement complex. It is after all only a weed that turns into a flower in your mind.

I give Peter Harckham great credit for his candor and hope some of his legislation transforms into law. In addition, members the Sackler family must be criminally prosecuted for deliberately manufacturing OxyCodone as addictive as possible to enrich themselves and their corporate bottom line at the expense of people who would then be completely dependent on it - and for others- death through overdosing. Criminal prosecution is necessary - how much money they have is irrelevant - they have been killing people through overdose deaths for decades and are not above the law.

Cannabis was mentioned one time. New York is so backwards it's laughable.

Okay, nice, but I still don't see why the words 'addiction' and marijuana are being put together yet again. For the 1,000,000 time, it can be habit forming (and make no bones, a bad habit) for some people, but it is not physically addicting and not difficult to cease using.

As a recovering alcoholic, I've struggled with sobriety and have had two relapses after long-term sobriety, so I welcome your honesty, Mr. Harckham. Thank you. It really is that simple: "Get well or die." I want to live.

At least here is a person who rather than saying that he wants to stop his neighbors from doing something, he says that he wants to stop himself from doing something. Still, he's on the wrong side of history. Outlawing drugs is like trying to outlaw the radio. Once technology exists, it is very difficult to turn back the clock and ban it. Drug laws fill our jails and ruin lives much more than the lives that might be ruined if drugs were legal. The drug inquisition persecutes victimless crimes and enriches the bad guys who profit from smuggling. Drug laws or not, each person must decide for themselves if they will use drugs, any drugs, and the state cannot do this for them.

Outstanding, Pete! I'm very proud you're my State Senator!

Religion used to be the opiate of the masses but that is on the decline so we need to find other ways for people to self-medicate hence we legalize marijuana and gambling because apparently alcohol is not enough. It is like watching a car wreck in slow motion. The answer lies in finding well-being in other ways than self-medicating and that should be encouraged rather than these approaches.

A great story for a Monday morning. Well done sir ...

Bravo. I salute your courage and leadership sir.

I admire Peter Harckham for his courage. He and I are the same age. I have been clean and sober for 31 years with the help of Narcotics Anonymous. I hit my bottom in 1988; the best I can describe it was that I'd consumed my lifetime quota for drugs and alcohol by age 28. I knew I was going to die if I kept it up. I didn't want to die, but I didn't know how to live without drugs and alcohol. Mr. Harckham and I are survivors. Maybe he and I met at NA meetings in Manhattan, I don't know? We both heard the message of recovery, and worked very hard to save our lives. Many addicts and alcoholics die from the disease of addiction because they can't get the help they need. There is still is stigma about the disease of addiction. Too many people still falsely believe it is a moral failing, lack of willpower, or criminal behavior. People still have an image of a drug addict that's not a college-educated gainfully employed white person. But addiction is an equal opportunity disease. I attend NA meetings with all walks of life. And like Mr. Harckham, the older I get the less I care about what people think. I tell them I'm a recovering drug addict. Because those of us with long-term recovery need to change the stigma. We do recover. Our society needs to start treating this disease instead of criminalizing and shaming the sick and suffering.

What a wonderful story to start my day. Senator Harckham’s courage, honesty and openness about his own addiction and recovery stand in such stark contrast to the cowardice, spinelessness, and dishonesty of Senate Republicans in the recent Trump impeachment trial. Unfortunately, the term “honest politician” has become an oxymoron. We need more elected officials like Senator Harckham. Good on ya, brother!

Senator Harckham's honesty is very refreshing. Even more impressive, and the best message here, is his overcoming these huge problems and going on to success in elected office. That is what people need to know. Opiates are not a death sentence for everyone. Most people use them responsibly to work etc, and relieve pain. If you go overboard, we can bring you back. The list of superstars who have done this and gone on to fame and fortune is long - Elton John, James Taylor, Eric Clapton, Rush Limbaugh, etc. etc.

It’s refreshing the senator not only revealed his battles with the chronic illness of addiction but by his openness to other people’s experiences. Many people who found health through 12 step abstinence programs are skeptical at best of other ways people deal with potentially addicting substances.

The US has a fundamental flaw that is prevalent regardless of the substance. We are chasing escape and pain relief. We self medicate to increasing degrees, to escape from the life we've created. This is true all over the world, but the US's appetite to numb pain instead of treating the root causes of their problems is especially ingrained. This is true of alcohol and prescription drugs. When something happens in our lives what's the first answer we all give? Go get a drink, take a pill, shopping therapy, binge eating, everything to numb the pain instead of addressing the root cause. I believe marijuana should "not" be criminalized, but it should be heavily regulated like any other pharmaceutical. Regulated, monitored and taxed. Criminalizing people for low level drugs won't stem the rampant addiction crisis in this country. It just creates an insidious cycle for people who are mostly on the bottom of the scale.

I stopped for 50 years, relapsed at 60. Finally joined AA at 70. Now I'm 83, on prescription drugs. Never too late to relapse but victory is possible.

Regarding Marijuana: The legal age for purchase and use of marijuana should be 21. Parents and guardians of people 20 and under should do all they can to stop 20 years old and younger from using marijuana. This is because the people, children, teens, young adults, in that age group, birth to 21 experience physiology changes, including neurological changes. Marijuana, at the least disrupts those normal neurological changes causing disorders in them, causing the disease of substance abuse. Also, marijuana is a gateway to using other dangerous substances, usually referred to as alcohol and drugs.

This is exactly what we need more of to overcome stigma attached to addiction and help others get treatment.

Mr Harckham's candor is very moving and VERY much needed. I have great respect for him.

In a year when we seem to be in a demoralizing vacuum of political leadership in our country, it's exciting to learn how we still have people like Peter Harckham. I'm sure he would be quick to argue that he is far from perfect, yet it is his imperfections that have helped shaped him into such a great leader. We need more like him. What a wonderful story!

Honesty in politics.. Compassion in politics.. We need more, please. He could have stayed silent but to our benefit, he shared his struggles and successes, acknowledging that he had what is needed to overcome.. Insurance, family, job..support, understanding. Not everyone has the opportunity or will power to get clean.. Like he said, everyone cannot be saved. We also need to encourage young people to think about what their life will be with the drugs and alcohol.. and without. That high today just might turn into your burden tomorrow. Thank you for a great read.