"We Can Be Heroes" Documentary Boxes with Addiction Stigma
I recently returned from the NAADAC 2024 Annual Conference held in Washington, D.C. and had such an amazing time meeting with treatment providers, policymakers, and individuals living and breathing mental health and behavioral health. One part of the conference really stood out to me, and that was the showing of the “We Can Be Heroes” Documentary which intimately shares Detroit boxer Taylor Duerr’s struggles with addiction and recovery.
The documentary follows the story of Detroit’s Taylor “Machine Gun” Duerr as he earns a national boxing title while fighting his addiction and battles with recovery and stigma outside the ring. Duerr is a 6’5” middle weight who won the championship belt with an 11-1-2 record but had a persnickety opiate addiction. Taylor struggled with addiction of crack, alcohol, and opiates while becoming a professional boxer.
After the showing of the film, there was a Q&A segment with Duerr and Mike Ramsdell, the filmmaker. I joined in to the discussion and shared how fitness and boxing, thanks to our Never Quit Gym Boxing Ring, was at the core of our rehab at Vegas Stronger and asked him if he had any analogies between boxing and addiction. He was a rare form of honest, quoting the big book often and discussing his multiple lapses in to recurrence. We talked about how boxing requires a healthy version of your self, not only physically but mentally, as Mike Tyson’s trainer once said that ‘Boxing is 85% mental.’ We discussed how the disease is like our opponent. We agreed that endorphins from training hard are better than any fake chemical high, and that it is better to hit a bag than to hit a vein and you can get the same rush.
Recovery is something that no one who isn’t in it will understand. It doesn’t just ruin us, it ruins our whole family. Getting treatment is the first and most important step, but staying strong in your recovery by doing the work is the most important step you must take every day. If you don’t, it can consume you and your family.
This film is not just entertaining and educational, it was created to break the stigma associated with the disease and receiving treatment, as well as relapses, which we also call recurrences. The documentary has traveled around America to provide showings to community to try to break some of the stigma associated with substance use disorder, especially amongst young people who are in sports.
“Addiction affects all members of a community. Stigma is the number one obstacle we face in treating this epidemic. By breaking down the walls of stigma through community dialogue, we know that those who need help are more likely to seek it, and those who can help are more likely to offer it,” Ramsdell said.
I thoroughly appreciated how open Duerr was with this story, he has had multiple recurrences but spoke matter of fact about his journey. It shows how real addiction is and you just must go about acceptance and continue the hard work to stay in recovery. He has a daughter, a life of success - he didn’t want to be back using but it’s part of the disease. I cannot stress to you enough how no one chooses to become an addict, and 16% of America has the disease of addiction. I’m thankful for every individual with the disease who shares their story to help others. I hope we see more of Taylor Duerr.