There is Hope, Even with Addiction
We have all heard about Charlie Sheen – even if you don’t want to. Stories about his “rock and roll life style,” being fired from his TV show and of course his responses are all over the internet, news and radio. I have heard him called crazy, mentally ill, disturbed, dangerous, manic, and falling down the rabbit hole, among others…
But the disintegration of Charlie Sheen is not new and sadly not unique. It appears that his grandiose statements, the erratic behavior, and the excuse-making are all symptoms of the disease of addiction, and sadly addiction is not new and not unique. People across the US are suffering with addictions every day, and sadly their lives have become unmanageable.
Charlie Sheen’s bizarre rants (tiger blood anyone?) may also be symptoms of a mental disorder. The combination of addiction and mental illness can be devastating to all around. Millions of American’s have family members and friends, who just like Charlie Sheen, have seemed to have “lost it.” They have deteriorated and their life has in a sense fallen apart.
There is hope. It is possible for anyone suffering from addiction, from your loved one to Charlie Sheen, to recover. What an addict needs is help. This help may appear meddling like asking them to go to a doctor or to rehab. This help may appear cruel, like cutting off financial support, kicking them out of your house, or firing them from work. Or this help may appear harsh like calling the police. But be clear anyone who is still in the grips of addiction needs help.
This hope is the message I want people hear: There is hope. So I end this with a reminder of hope. Anyone remember Robert Downey Jr. in the late 90’s? When he was addicted to heroin, cocaine and various other substances? Well it was in the late 90’s that he was arrested for drug possession. And affter another arrest, missed court appearances, and failed drug tests, he was sent to drug rehabilitation in Corcoran State Prison for 3 year (YES, PRISON)! But after time spent in drug rehabilitation and some rumored AA participation, he has recovered. He is now Iron Man (literally!).
