Respect & rights for those with addictions

At the top of the papers on the desk today is a growing collection of statements of rights for addiction and substance patients, their children and those who are caring for, or about, them.  These documents usually have some reference in their titles to a 'bill of rights' or a similar phrase.  On reviewing several, I am reminded that our systems, to a great degree, have failed to acknowledge many of the basic and fundamental assurances that we should all be able to share. 

These declarations range in length from just a dozen lines for the shortest to a whopping nine pages.  However, in one word, the theme I recognize all among these efforts is 'respect'.  Most persons who have been involved  with the various 'systems' probably will agree that, in practice, this is not really honored.  Those experiences have shown (better than I can describe) that the ones who need respect the most are mistreated, denied their dignity, treated as lacking in character and morals; essentially made a victims of a vicious and brutal kind of discrimination.  I intend to explore this subject in greater depth in coming days. For now, a few key points are worthy of mention. Among the rights we should enjoy: to be yourself, to ask for help, to make mistakes, to have your own feelings, to make choices, to be  heard, to be safe and free from harm, to have privacy, to be told the truth, to be involved in decisions about yourself.  Again, in short, to have respect.