Tyler Alvarez —INSTAGRAM
Actor Tyler Alvarez emphatically talked about losing a loved one to drug addiction in an Instagram post on Aug. 31, International Overdose Awareness Day.
Alongside photos of him as a kid with his older brother Nico, Alvarez related in the caption, “The last 10 months have been nothing but crazy. I lost my big brother to addiction. And, one thing I want to say to you all is this: If you are struggling with addiction, ask for help.”
The “Orange Is the New Black” actor reminded his followers that asking for help doesn’t make one weak. “True strength is admitting your weaknesses, [as] opposed to hiding them,” said the 21-year-old Alvarez. “Vulnerability is real strength. It’s unfortunate that society teaches us to hide our weaknesses because ‘people will target us,’ but f**k that and f**k them.”
Alvarez, who lost his brother in October last year, encouraged his fans to speak up if they know someone going through similar struggles.
“You might not be able to save them, and there is nothing you can do about it,” he said. “Unfortunately, that’s a lesson I learned the hard way. But, you still gotta try.”
And for those wishing to experiment? “Do not open the door,” stressed the former “American Vandal” cast member. “If you never try it, you can’t become an addict. Everyone thinks, ‘That won’t happen to me’—[yes], that’s what my brother said, too.”
The actor concluded, “If this message helps someone, then my vulnerability was worth it.”—OLIVER PULUMBARIT