Heymish Noa spent 20 years trapped in the hell of addiction to drugs, alcohol, and sex, hiding from pain and shame until he was diagnosed with late-stage HIV. Instead of sinking, he found salvation in anonymous groups and Buddhism, battling his demons and accepting himself as bisexual. While the World Health Organization reports 2.6 million deaths from alcohol and hundreds of thousands from drugs annually, Heymish’s story proves recovery is possible—but only if we confront shame and seek help. Think addiction is just weakness? Think again! Comment below—Is society ready to accept those fighting addiction and HIV, or will we keep judging and hiding them?
