IN the ten years she has served as manager of the Alcohol and Drug Prevention Programme (ADAPP) of the THA Division of Health, Wellness and Social Protection, Billie Sterling Lewis has tried to not only help her clients regain wholesome lives but to change society’s perception of them.

She’s had many success stories of clients who’ve beaten the odds and led meaningful, productive lives but changing people’s mindset about substance misusers and the pain they often undergo remains an uphill battle.

“Society tends to treat misusers with disdain, fear and hostility,” Sterling Lewis told WMN.

Substance misuse is the use of alcohol, illegal drugs, or over-the-counter or prescription medications in a way that they are not meant to be used and could be harmful to you or others around you. People can misuse substances one time, occasionally, or regularly, and they can go on to develop substance use disorder.

According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation substance misuse is "the use of alcohol, illegal drugs, or over-the-counter or prescription medications in a way that they are not meant to be used and could be harmful to you or others around you. People can misuse substances one time, occasionally, or regularly, and they can go on to develop substance use disorder."

As a result, Sterling Lewis said many people with substance misuse disorders also have comorbid mental health disorders like depression (uni and bipolar), psychotic and personality disorders, which tend to increase the fear factor.

She said in her experience, substance misusers are also abused physically, mentally and emotionally. This is especially so with female drug misusers, who have a more difficult experience as users and in seeking help, recovery and healing, she said.

“That is a whole other issue by itself.”

Sterling Lewis said while people in society have tried to assist substance misusers, many of them lack the patience, knowledge and understanding of the condition, thus creating more harm than good. She said substance misusers are often viewed as moral failures and blamed for their condition while others are seen as violent people who should be locked away from the society.

While some believe that misusers can never recover and regard relapses as evidence of the same, Sterling Lewis said this is not the case.

[caption id="attachment_975686" align="alignnone" width="852"] Billie Lewis has had many success stories of clients who now lead productive lives after overcoming substance misue.- DAVID REID[/caption]

She noted there is also the belief that some people choose drugs because they are evil, disobedient, stupid and weak.

“But the truth is that most persons dealing with substance misuse disorders started using to self-medicate and cope. It is usually a symptom of a bigger and deeper issue. And yes, while it was a choice that they made, many didn’t feel like they had other viable options.”

As she bids Tobago farewell, Sterling Lewis is hoping that the programmes that were implemented over the years to treat with substance mi