Unless you die of an overdose, you don't have to talk about your addiction or your recovery from addiction. Well, if you're dead, you won't be the one doing the talking anyway, but everyone else will!
What motivated this rant was an actress on a talk show I watched last night. With every topic of discussion, she tossed her drug recovery into the ring. It was annoying to hear this on a comedy talk show because addiction is not funny.
When celebs "broadcast" in a discussion about their taking drugs and their recovery from drugs, it sets up a precident for everyone who has ever had a problem with drugs or alcohol. This is not to shortchange the work of many celebrities and regular folks in overcoming their addiction problems. There is nothing harder to pull off than to recover from addiction. Anyone who succeeds is a giant in my eyes.
If a recovering addict wants to talk about his addiction, that is his prerogative, and I wish him the best. I'm not saying that he is wrong to talk about his recovery -- even online. But, sometimes in their enthusiasm to help others, recovering addicts share dark secrets about their drug pasts that are just as well left unsaid.
An addict in recovery should be known as a really nice guy, or a great actor, or a generous philanthropist -- not as an addict. People are so much more than their addictions -- they are moms and dads and co-workers and valued friends. Why tarnish their image? Not everyone shares my positive views on addicts who have overcome the disease of addiction. In fact, many people (like potential employers) are downright mean spirited about it.
Just something to think about. Addiction is ugly and deadly -- and there is nothing (and I mean nothing) funny about it.
No comments:
Post a Comment