Fredd Carroll is a man who is “good at many things.” He’s an author, screenwriter, podcaster, producer, and more. He’s also familiar with what it’s like to deal with stigma.
On paper, Fredd has an eighth-grade education. Growing up, he didn’t have a great support system, but he fell in love with movies. Fredd knew he wanted to be involved in filmmaking, and even though he had to put his dreams on hold to be a father, he studied his craft. He educated himself. And now he’s able to pursue his dreams.
A lot in Fredd’s life could be stigmatized: The lack of formal education, the unsupportive parents, and becoming a father at a young age. But he doesn’t have a podcast about those things. Instead, he has a podcast with Scott Silverman called Ending the Stigma: A Path to Recovery.
You may be surprised to learn that Fredd isn’t an addict. When someone takes a massive chunk out of their time to discuss a topic, it’s usually because that topic has affected them in some way. We hear from former addicts, their parents, and their friends. Fredd is just a guy who cares about people.
We need more of that.
Average people showing compassion for addicts will help to end the stigma surrounding recovery.
During a Happy Hour podcast, Scott talked about how people are still hesitant to seek help. When they do, they often disguise themselves. They’ll leave a fake name and number, despite caller ID, and it’s all because of stigma. People need more help now than ever before, but they’re still afraid of what it will mean to be labeled an addict. They don’t want anyone to perceive them as weak.
Fredd agrees that it’s hard for people to reach out. It’s hard for us to trust one another, and it’s difficult for men, especially, to ask for help. He thinks the solution may be to recognize that people are different.
The idea sounds simple enough, but we often forget that people who have the same problem don’t necessarily share the same experiences. You can have two alcoholics, but they each respond to different forms of treatment. Scott believes it’s all down to mental health. In his experience, most people in recovery have an underlying mental health issue.
The solution? Rehab facilities must offer a multitude of recovery options.
Confidential Recovery offers outpatient rehab in many forms. They know that group therapy may work for one person, while telehealth addiction counseling is the best option for someone else. Some people may respond to medication-assisted treatment, while others benefit most from mindfulness training.
Scott and Fredd believe telehealth may be the answer for people who can’t get past the shame or worry stemming from their addiction. Through Zoom, you can choose a different name or turn off the camera.
Whether your comfort level is telehealth or in-person assistance, Scott and Confidential Recovery can help. We hope that one day no one will feel ashamed to seek help and enter recovery, but until the stigma is gone for good, we’ll do everything we can to make you feel comfortable.
If you are facing a situation with a loved one, spouse, or even a child that has started to spiral, please call me at 619-993-2738.
Scott is the Founder and CEO of Confidential Recovery, an drug addiction treatment program in San Diego.
About Scott H. Silverman: Scott has been fighting against addiction for over 20 years, one person, speech, and book at a time. You can buy a copy of his latest book “The Opioid Epidemic” here.
(c) 2022 Scott H Silverman. All Rights Reserved.
