Today, November 15th, marks the start of hunting season with firearms around here. I don’t hunt myself, so it’s not really a big day for me, but I know many hunters who are excited.

It’s not that I think hunting is barbaric or anything. For one, I’m not a vegetarian and I wear leather, so I can’t say that killing animals for human use is wrong. No, for me, it’s a matter of personality and preferences. I don’t want to get up early in the morning and wait in the dark and cold for deer that might or might not come my way. I’m too lazy and impatient to be a hunter.

Some people use hunting and fishing as an excuse for substance use disorder. They say that they’re hunting when really, they spend time drinking alcohol or using drugs in a cabin, hunting blind, ice shanty, boat, or whatever. (Besides, my shivering and yawning would scare away any potential deer or fish.)

Others use hobbies such as hunting and fishing as a way to not to drink or use drugs or participate in substance use disorder. They’re spending the time, energy, and money hunting and fishing they would use on drugs and alcohol.

This might sound obvious, but it’s significant. To someone struggling with substance use disorder, abusing substances becomes their hobby. Their substance use disorder habits push away all of their other habits and activities.

Substance use disorder is all-consuming. It rewires people’s brains so that they want those substances. It alters their bodies so that they feel sick when they don’t have those substances. It can lead people to abandon their jobs, educations, hobbies, and even their families and friends.

I think that’s one reason why rehab is so important. Not only does rehab remove the drugs and alcohol from people, but inpatient centers can teach patients how to avoid alcohol and drugs in the future. It can even help them explore and develop new ways to spend their time, including helping them discover new hobbies.