by Sr. Harriet Mutonyi, MMM                                 Uganda                                11.07.2026

My internship at Serenity Centre, here in Entebbe, Uganda, has been one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life.  There are lessons that books can teach and there are lessons that reality teaches.  Reality teaches in a way that leaves a lasting mark on your mind and heart. Before coming to Serenity Centre, I thought I understood addiction.  I had attended classes, read books, listened to lectures.  I believed I knew what addiction looked like and who was most vulnerable to it.

However, my experience here has challenged many of my assumptions. One of the biggest surprises for me was the issue of peer pressure. Peer pressure is often discussed in relation to children and adolescents.  Yet, at the Serenity Centre, I have met grown men and women whose journeys into addiction began through the influence of friends, workmates and social circles.  Some started drinking simply to belong.  Over time, what started as a social activity became dependency that affected their health, relationships and livelihoods.

Another misconception that was shattered was my understanding of addiction itself.  Like many people, I used to associate addiction mainly with alcohol and drugs.  Today, I know that addiction is far broader than that.  It can take many forms including behavioural addictions such as gambling, internet use, gaming, social media, shopping, food, sex, pornography, work and exercise.  Beyond these are emotional and relationship addictions, where individuals become dependent on validation, attention, relationships or unhealthy patterns of attachment.

What struck me most was seeing people from all walks of life struggling with addiction.  I met individuals who were respected in their communities, successful in their careers and influential in society.  I met young people from families that seemed to have every resource necessary to protect them from harm.  Yet addiction had found its way into their lives.  It reminded me that addiction does not discriminate.  It does not respect social status, education, wealth, profession, age, tribe or religion.  It can affect anyone.  It means that none of us is completely immune.  If we honestly examine our lives, many of us may discover unhealthy attachments or habits that have gained more control over us than we would like to admit.  They may not all be visible or socially condemned, but they exist.  Addiction is often closer than we think.

As one of the saints wisely said, “There goes I, if it were not for the grace of God.”  Those words remind us that our circumstances are not solely the result of our own strength or wisdom.  The struggles we see in others could easily become our own struggles under different circumstances.  Instead of condemning those who suffer from addiction, we are called to extend compassion, understanding and support, recognizing our shared human vulnerability.  This is why addiction should not be approached with blame, condemnation or indifference.
My time at the Serenity Centre has taught me many lessons, but perhaps the greatest is this: every choice we make today has consequences tomorrow.  In life, there is always a “few moments later.”  The habits we nurture today become the realities we face tomorrow.  The decisions we make in private eventually reveal themselves in public.  The warning signs we ignore today may become the crises we struggle with tomorrow.

Reality has indeed slapped me directly in the face.  Yet I am grateful for the lesson.  It has made me more compassionate, less judgmental and more aware of the struggles people carry.  It has reminded me that addiction is not simply about substances; it is about people, pain, choices and hope.  And above all, it has convinced me that when we join hands, support one another and seek help when needed, recovery and healing are always possible.