Lila Clementson

Hi all! My name is Lila Clementson, a passionate advocate for a holistic approach to addiction. I graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, a minor in law and society, and a concentration in criminal justice. Initially, with a focus on our criminal justice system and ending with a dedication to all knowledge surrounding addiction, I strongly believe that a multidisciplinary approach to the societal issue of addiction is crucial when examining the ways in which it affects people's lives. I hope to use this space to highlight the ways in which addiction has affected and continues to affect our society on an individual, intrapersonal, and systemic level. Chances are you may know someone struggling with addiction, as research shows 46% of Americans have a friend or family member with a current or past drug addiction (Pew Research, 2017). It’s more common than one may think, and not talked about nearly enough.

I hope to ignite a discussion that allows people to understand and talk about addiction without the negative stigma it is often met with, and above all I want to convey a message of hope. Addiction is a societal issue that can be met with modes of action like preventive education and treatment. Addiction Education Society and the work that it is doing are a crucial part of relieving people from addiction in our communities. 

While my education provided me with the insight and tools to approach the difficult conversation of addiction, my personal experiences prompted me with a deep interest in learning about addiction in a more in-depth and comprehensive way. Through high school and the beginning of college, I learned how addiction could affect one's life firsthand, navigating my own struggles with substance misuse. My alcohol and substance use was frequent and affected my life in many ways. At the time, I did not know what addiction was or that I could be dealing with it. Yet in reflection, I could check off pretty much all of the “Telltale signs of Addiction”.

My substance use began to really impact my life when I started college as it became more difficult to balance my “work hard, play hard” mentality as my alcohol and drug use became more and more important. Thankfully, I came to recognize how my alcohol and drug use were preventing growth in all areas of my life. I was finally able to ask for and receive the help I needed. This marked one of the most difficult points in my life, but put me on a path I am so grateful to be on today. Addiction is fully a part of my story and I am grateful for it. It taught me three invaluable
lessons:

1.  Addiction does not discriminate. It can affect anyone regardless of your background, but there are ways to understand whether you are at risk of addiction fully. 

2. Addiction is often overlooked or hidden. In my personal experience, my addiction was often met with encouragement because of my age. I was often told it was okay to “just have fun” and I leaned into the “party girl” stereotype even though I knew I was not okay. 

3. There is NOT enough education. I did not know the words for what I was experiencing. Addiction was never modeled in a way that made me realize it could impact my life as it was often talked about with extreme examples. With these lessons in the forefront of my mind, I want to use this space to talk about the
   ways addiction can show up, the tools we can use to combat it, and the addition of personal anecdotes to hopefully make the topic more digestible to anyone out there. 

I committed to sobriety on July 18, 2022, and dove headfirst into understanding what addiction is and how I can help prevent it from affecting others the way it affected me. Through my last two years of college, I was an avid member of Cal Polys’ Collegiate Recovery Program. I lead weekly meditation meetings for my peers who were also
pursuing sobriety while simultaneously working towards a college degree. This space allowed us to talk about the tools we use to manage the stress of life without turning to drugs or alcohol for relief. I also conducted a qualitative study on the challenges, barriers, and successes that college students pursuing sobriety face, which allowed me to have a more intimate understanding of what some of my peers have endured
surrounding substance misuse. 

All in all, through my education and life experiences, I aim to add a unique perspective to the topic of addiction. My role here is to contribute to the ongoing discussion and highlight the more nuanced ways addiction can show up in one’s life. I am fully dedicated to the education paradigm and believe it is crucial in curating a society that is fully aware of all aspects of addiction. I am committed to what the Addiction Education Society is doing and I believe that as a society, we can continue to learn and grow together. 

Lila Clementson, Addiction Education Society Advocate