Hey all! I wanted to kick things off with a bang here in my blogspot. I wanted this to be a place where truth is told, hope is shared, and hopefully some healing occurs. Healing doesn’t always happen when you are dealing with people with an affliction like addiction, though. One recent example is the tragic loss of Amy Winehouse. As someone studying to go into the field of addiction treatment, I have had to wonder what pieces were missing? Why didn’t she embrace the help that was offered to her.
Russell Brand took this opportunity to speak about the death of his friend, Amy. I have never been a fan of Russell’s, mostly because I haven’t seen much of his work. After I read his statements, I have a great respect for him.
In an Us Magazine article posted on the OMG! Website Brand speaks out very eloquently about his own addiction and the need to support those who identify as having substance use disorders. He states “Addiction is a serious disease; it will end with jail, mental institutions or death. I was 27 years old when through the friendship and help of Chip Somers of the treatment centre, Focus12, I found recovery. Through Focus I was introduced to support fellowships for alcoholics and drug addicts which are very easy to find and open to anybody with a desire to stop drinking and without which I would not be alive.”
I’d like to applaud Brand’s bravery for stepping up and acknowledging his disease, and not hiding behind anonymity that some people chose to hide behind. I think he realizes that the more we sensationalize this condition, and feed into the misconceptions that go along with it, the more people will die.
He continues on to say that not all addicts have the talent of an Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, or Janis Joplin. “Some people just get the affliction” he says quite simply. “All we can do” he writes on “is adapt the way we view this condition, not as a crime or a romantic affectation but as a disease that will kill. We need to review the way society treats addicts, not as criminals but as sick people in need of care. We need to look at the way our government funds rehabilitation. It is cheaper to rehabilitate an addict than to send them to prison, so criminalization doesn’t even make economic sense. Not all of us know someone with the incredible talent that Amy had but we all know drunks and junkies and they all need help and the help is out there. All they have to do is pick up the phone and make the call. Or not. Either way, there will be a phone call.”
I chose to share this with you because it is very nearly the mission statement of Project Vox. I would like to send my gratitude to Russell for his eloquent words, and my condolences to the Winehouse family, and those that loved Amy.
~ Deborah Garrett
