The Stigma of Addiction | Tony Hoffman | TEDxFresnoState

Comments · 520

• BR

  @BrandonMays-vl1bv · 2 years ago

  I just spent 29 years in prison due to choices made in my addiction. I was released a year and a half ago, (the longest I have been out since 15) I am now a drug counselor working as a case manager in substance abuse with two college degrees, a loving wife and family, a house in Vegas and best of all, I am now a man of character who lives his best life. I am a man that has the trust of his friends and the love of God. If there is anyone out there struggling with addiction, I promise It is possible.

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• MA

  @matthackenberry1603 · 6 years ago

  I am 4 months sober and it’s a fight I’m gonna fight everyday but I am staying strong! Hopefully everyone watching this stays strong!

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• PE

  @peninahnjoroge689 · 6 years ago

  Great story. the 32 dislikes are from people who have no idea the amount of effort it takes for an addict to be even 1 hour sober.

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• MO

  @monicarussup8498 · 6 years ago

  As a person in recovery, i can totally relate to this talk!! I've been homeless, in jail, and i have used puddle water, and toilet water. Today, i have 2 years and 5 months clean, I have my ceritification as a Recovery Specialist, and I have a job in a coffee shop that is a non profit striving to break the stigma and normalize recovery in my small town. People can and do change!! I am living proof!! Thanks for this talk!! You're awesome.

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• JJ

  @jjxartist · 5 years ago

  Some of the most Amazing people I've ever met in my life are recovering addicts. You don't know who you can become until you take the first step.

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• DA

  @daltonwhitehair8391 · 2 years ago

  My recovery isn’t at a good start this time around once again but I’m hanging in there at the moment, one day at a time

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• TH

  @theverdantwolf5402 · 7 years ago

  I hate talks like this, inspirational BS....but this one was good, real walk, real talk.

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• SH

  @shawtysoup · 3 years ago

  "When you walk through the door and find out you're an addict, because you don't get to choose whether you'll be an addict or not, you cannot just walk back out through the invisible door you didn't see yourself walking into because you think you're done." This hit home. I never saw how bad it was until I was at rock bottom. Still trying to cope with the fact that I will have to fight against addiction and relapse for the rest of my life. But hey, I've got 34 days sober from opioids right now and that is all that matters. Tony's story is incredible, impactful, and inspiring.  I will never forget this and will definitely be rewatching when things seem impossible.

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• SE

  @seniorvenusdigital3904 · 7 years ago

  Tony visited my school and it was the best speech ever and the most inspirational. It definitely wasn't one of those generic speeches.

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• SA

  @SA-pt6ki · 5 years ago

  In order to free yourself from addiction you must find within you that which fills the void that you have been trying to fill with your substances.

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• BO

  @bordercollie1140 · 3 years ago

  Most of the important people in my life have completely blanked me because of addiction. It just makes me feel like never stopping.

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• JO

  @JohnJames-td9bi · 5 years ago

  He is by definition: here for a reason.

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