First, I believe the parlance is recovering addict. If you choose to subscribe to the 12 step method of recovery, you are never fully "recovered" from addiction.
Second, marijuana, alcohol, and cigarettes are all gateway substances. The dangers of these mood altering drugs are self-evident. It seems to me that we should be doing everything possible to educate people before they get hooked, not try and deal with a drug addict after they become addicted.
Excuse me, you're right. I am technically recovering. I choose to say recovered because not everyone understands that terminology and some might assume I'm currently in treatment or the beginning stages of recovery. I feel like saying recovered sends a message that now I've been sober for quite some time and totally stable and living the same kind of life anyone else would (job, car, family, what have you). I also tend to use the word sober over clean but many don't know the difference between those either.
In any case you're right. We do need to deal with them before getting addicted, not after. It's much cheaper and easier to prevent than anything else. Good education starts with getting real about substances and the process of addiction, not scaring people. The scare method just created a generation that assumes drug users have a moral failing and that's where the stigma comes from. Meanwhile the users are languishing in prison or on the streets not getting the help they need and deserve.
FWIW, I believe the scare method worked for me... I see celebs in magazines all the time with drug problems, you read about their car crash lives, then they usually die young. That, coupled with the fact that it's illegal made me decide early on "Yeah, I won't try drugs thanks".
(I'm in the UK so the culture etc may be different).
First, I believe the parlance is recovering addict. If you choose to subscribe to the 12 step method of recovery, you are never fully "recovered" from addiction.
Second, marijuana, alcohol, and cigarettes are all gateway substances. The dangers of these mood altering drugs are self-evident. It seems to me that we should be doing everything possible to educate people before they get hooked, not try and deal with a drug addict after they become addicted.