JaneSmith|1391378525|3606631 said:Damn. So young, and three little kids. Heroin is a difficult drug to manage, let alone beat.
None of us has reason to think Philip Seymour Hoffman did not have "a strong enough support system."
missy|1391433315|3606895 said:I was sad to read of this news. He was a talented actor and I enjoyed many of his performances. It is so sad when someone dies because of an addiction because it was a death that could have been prevented if only he had enough desire within himself to make the change and a strong enough support system to help him get through it.
monarch64|1391451806|3607055 said:missy|1391433315|3606895 said:I was sad to read of this news. He was a talented actor and I enjoyed many of his performances. It is so sad when someone dies because of an addiction because it was a death that could have been prevented if only he had enough desire within himself to make the change and a strong enough support system to help him get through it.
This is a person who had been in recovery from his addiction for TWENTY THREE years. He relapsed last spring and put himself in a 10 day detox. Addiction (especially to heroin from everything I've read and from personally witnessing people in the throes of the addiction) is stronger than just "the desire within."
For him to have stayed in recovery for so long, and the fact that he spent his life surrounded by temptations, is amazing to me and says a lot about how strong his inner desire to recover from his addiction was.
missy|1391433315|3606895 said:I was sad to read of this news. He was a talented actor and I enjoyed many of his performances. It is so sad when someone dies because of an addiction because it was a death that could have been prevented if only he had enough desire within himself to make the change and a strong enough support system to help him get through it.
Tacori E-ring|1391629289|3608543 said:missy|1391433315|3606895 said:I was sad to read of this news. He was a talented actor and I enjoyed many of his performances. It is so sad when someone dies because of an addiction because it was a death that could have been prevented if only he had enough desire within himself to make the change and a strong enough support system to help him get through it.
If only this was true. I am a clinical therapist who specializes in substance abuse counseling. Addicts do not want to be addicts. I have never met a single addict who planned on addiction or enjoy hurting their families. It was nothing to do with lack of desire or willpower. Drinking/drugging is a symptom of a much larger disease. A disease that needs treatment. Most times there are underlying mental illness. In this case, depression. Have you ever tried to control someone else's behavior? Families are not at fault. They cannot control or cure the disease. They did not cause it. Statements like this make me sad because it proves the unfair stigma and judgement towards addicts and their families is still there. I mourn for everyone who dies at the hand of their addiction. It is tragic. It ruins lives (addict and family).
missy|1391630747|3608570 said:Tacori E-ring|1391629289|3608543 said:missy|1391433315|3606895 said:I was sad to read of this news. He was a talented actor and I enjoyed many of his performances. It is so sad when someone dies because of an addiction because it was a death that could have been prevented if only he had enough desire within himself to make the change and a strong enough support system to help him get through it.
If only this was true. I am a clinical therapist who specializes in substance abuse counseling. Addicts do not want to be addicts. I have never met a single addict who planned on addiction or enjoy hurting their families. It was nothing to do with lack of desire or willpower. Drinking/drugging is a symptom of a much larger disease. A disease that needs treatment. Most times there are underlying mental illness. In this case, depression. Have you ever tried to control someone else's behavior? Families are not at fault. They cannot control or cure the disease. They did not cause it. Statements like this make me sad because it proves the unfair stigma and judgement towards addicts and their families is still there. I mourn for everyone who dies at the hand of their addiction. It is tragic. It ruins lives (addict and family).
I agree that addicts don't want to be addicts and that it ruins lives. My close friend's son is an addict and has been in and out of treatments since his early twenties so over 10 years now. My friend (his mom) is actually a psychiatrist and she feels powerless. He has put them through hell over the years and it continues to be heartbreaking. He is under a mental health professional's care but still he relapses. It goes in cycles with him. He stops doing drugs and is clean but then he relapses. My heart breaks for her and her dh and for him. Even with all her knowledge and love there seems to be no answer.
I am not blaming anyone but just saying how sad it is that Hoffman couldn't beat the disease whether it was from depression or another root cause. That's what I was trying to say anyway. It's a lose lose crappy situation any way you look at it.
I guess I wonder then if his death in any way could have been prevented or basically was it inevitable? Is there no treatment that works for some unlucky people?
Tacori E-ring|1391658180|3608981 said:missy|1391630747|3608570 said:Tacori E-ring|1391629289|3608543 said:missy|1391433315|3606895 said:I was sad to read of this news. He was a talented actor and I enjoyed many of his performances. It is so sad when someone dies because of an addiction because it was a death that could have been prevented if only he had enough desire within himself to make the change and a strong enough support system to help him get through it.
If only this was true. I am a clinical therapist who specializes in substance abuse counseling. Addicts do not want to be addicts. I have never met a single addict who planned on addiction or enjoy hurting their families. It was nothing to do with lack of desire or willpower. Drinking/drugging is a symptom of a much larger disease. A disease that needs treatment. Most times there are underlying mental illness. In this case, depression. Have you ever tried to control someone else's behavior? Families are not at fault. They cannot control or cure the disease. They did not cause it. Statements like this make me sad because it proves the unfair stigma and judgement towards addicts and their families is still there. I mourn for everyone who dies at the hand of their addiction. It is tragic. It ruins lives (addict and family).
I agree that addicts don't want to be addicts and that it ruins lives. My close friend's son is an addict and has been in and out of treatments since his early twenties so over 10 years now. My friend (his mom) is actually a psychiatrist and she feels powerless. He has put them through hell over the years and it continues to be heartbreaking. He is under a mental health professional's care but still he relapses. It goes in cycles with him. He stops doing drugs and is clean but then he relapses. My heart breaks for her and her dh and for him. Even with all her knowledge and love there seems to be no answer.
I am not blaming anyone but just saying how sad it is that Hoffman couldn't beat the disease whether it was from depression or another root cause. That's what I was trying to say anyway. It's a lose lose crappy situation any way you look at it.
I guess I wonder then if his death in any way could have been prevented or basically was it inevitable? Is there no treatment that works for some unlucky people?
I am a bit confused by your comments. There seems to be a disconnect. Proof that even someone with a rock solid support system and therapy can still struggle with addiction. Some people find sobriety. Some people don't. Personally, I always have hope until they pass. Change is possible and people can improve their lives. Mental illness, substance abuse, anxiety, stress, toxic relationships, etc...every person has the opportunity to help themselves find happiness and peace. Over 400 people die daily from drugs and alcohol. It is always tragic. Unfortunately relapse can be part of the disease. That said I have met MANY "one chip wonders." People who found recovery and never relapsed.
missy|1391682729|3609123 said:Tacori E-ring|1391658180|3608981 said:missy|1391630747|3608570 said:Tacori E-ring|1391629289|3608543 said:missy|1391433315|3606895 said:I was sad to read of this news. He was a talented actor and I enjoyed many of his performances. It is so sad when someone dies because of an addiction because it was a death that could have been prevented if only he had enough desire within himself to make the change and a strong enough support system to help him get through it.
If only this was true. I am a clinical therapist who specializes in substance abuse counseling. Addicts do not want to be addicts. I have never met a single addict who planned on addiction or enjoy hurting their families. It was nothing to do with lack of desire or willpower. Drinking/drugging is a symptom of a much larger disease. A disease that needs treatment. Most times there are underlying mental illness. In this case, depression. Have you ever tried to control someone else's behavior? Families are not at fault. They cannot control or cure the disease. They did not cause it. Statements like this make me sad because it proves the unfair stigma and judgement towards addicts and their families is still there. I mourn for everyone who dies at the hand of their addiction. It is tragic. It ruins lives (addict and family).
I agree that addicts don't want to be addicts and that it ruins lives. My close friend's son is an addict and has been in and out of treatments since his early twenties so over 10 years now. My friend (his mom) is actually a psychiatrist and she feels powerless. He has put them through hell over the years and it continues to be heartbreaking. He is under a mental health professional's care but still he relapses. It goes in cycles with him. He stops doing drugs and is clean but then he relapses. My heart breaks for her and her dh and for him. Even with all her knowledge and love there seems to be no answer.
I am not blaming anyone but just saying how sad it is that Hoffman couldn't beat the disease whether it was from depression or another root cause. That's what I was trying to say anyway. It's a lose lose crappy situation any way you look at it.
I guess I wonder then if his death in any way could have been prevented or basically was it inevitable? Is there no treatment that works for some unlucky people?
I am a bit confused by your comments. There seems to be a disconnect. Proof that even someone with a rock solid support system and therapy can still struggle with addiction. Some people find sobriety. Some people don't. Personally, I always have hope until they pass. Change is possible and people can improve their lives. Mental illness, substance abuse, anxiety, stress, toxic relationships, etc...every person has the opportunity to help themselves find happiness and peace. Over 400 people die daily from drugs and alcohol. It is always tragic. Unfortunately relapse can be part of the disease. That said I have met MANY "one chip wonders." People who found recovery and never relapsed.
No disconnect but just not explaining myself well enough.This is exactly what I meant when I wrote if only he had a strong enough desire and support system (whether that be emotionally or actual loved ones being there if he needed them to get through the tough/rough spots) to help him through this...that if only he had it within him to find the happiness and peace he needed to beat the addiction he could have been OK. If only he could have helped himself to beat the disease. If only he had what he needed to do so... whatever that could have been.
Whether or not our POV's align I know we both agree that addiction is a tragedy and continues to be a tragedy for a ridiculous number of people and their loved ones. I hope in your career you find the way to help as many people as you can and that you continue to get great satisfaction from doing so.
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