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The Walking Dead, Survival Rule Of The Week: Fight your demons

By Liam O'Leary

Katelyn Nacon as Enid, Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes, Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, The Walking Dead -- AMC
Katelyn Nacon as Enid, Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes, Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, The Walking Dead -- AMC /
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Steven Yeun as Glenn Rhee, Scott Wilson as Hershel Greene, Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, The Walking Dead — AMC
Steven Yeun as Glenn Rhee, Scott Wilson as Hershel Greene, Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, The Walking Dead — AMC /

2) You have a substance abuse problem.

This one is probably the easiest to recognize, but, the most difficult to conquer.

While I’m no doctor, I think it’s pretty well known the detrimental effects substance abuse can have on the human body, especially the brain.

Countless substances adversely affect the brain, making our perception distorted or our reactions delayed. While this can be dangerous before the zombie outbreak, afterwards, this can be downright disastrous.

Brandon Fobbs as Terry, Aldis Hodge as Mike, The Walking Dead — AMC
Brandon Fobbs as Terry, Aldis Hodge as Mike, The Walking Dead — AMC /

If you think back to Mike, Michonne’s boyfriend, and his friend Terry, whom we met in Season Four’s “After”, we get a glimpse of just how disastrous this truly can be.

It was revealed in that episode that, while Michonne was out gathering supplies, Mike and Terry chose to get high. Sadly, doing so made them completely incapable of escaping or defending themselves when walkers invaded their camp. The two were bitten and Mike and Michonne’s infant son was consumed.

This is the problem with substance abuse once the dead start walking. Most things that people would abuse, leave the user either in a stupor, or so erratic, they behave recklessly. Whatever the case may be, doing so when there are zombies around is virtually a guarantee that you’ll get bitten.

Now, I know some might say: “Yeah, but, zombies aren’t going to be around all the time!” And, while this is true, the fact remains that zombies can wash over pretty quickly and without warning, especially at the beginning of the apocalypse, when access to substances people might abuse will be at their greatest. All you need is to get high or drunk and get ambushed by a herd and you (Along with anyone who might be relying on you to help them) are screwed.

Scott Wilson as Hershel Greene, Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, The Walking Dead — AMC
Scott Wilson as Hershel Greene, Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, The Walking Dead — AMC /

How do you fix it? Honestly…I don’t know.

While there is the possibility that lack of access to many of the substances in question may force people to overcome their addiction cold turkey, there is no guarantee.

One thing I do know, however, is that for a person to overcome an addiction where they still have access to their substance of choice, they need to want to be rid of it. Other people can talk until they’re blue in the face, but, if the addict doesn’t want to kick the habit, the pleas of others will likely fall on deaf ears.

Substance abuse is not something that can be shrugged off lightly. My only hope is that those who might suffer it are so potentially terrified by the prospect of being eaten alive because of their substance of choice, that decide it’s time to abandon it.

Next: Fighting What Isn't There

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