I don't understand addiction. I don't have an addictive personality but I've chosen to avoid drugs, partially due to the fear of the consequence; the side effects, the addiction. It's similar to staying away from a hot stove because you know you'll get burned and it hurts. Addicts touch the hot stove so much that their bodies become immune to the pain and only feel the sick pleasure. However, I don't need to understand it to accept that it is a real disease.
Addicts suffer. They struggle to fight withdrawals because they lack the necessary willpower. They struggle to mask their addiction from their loved ones. They struggle to maintain a "normal" lifestyle while everything slowly slips through their fingers. And sometimes their struggle just isn't enough.
Russell Brand, in response to Amy Winehouse's unfortunate death (while we found out later her passing was not necessarily drug related), took the words right out of my mouth when he wrote,
"When you love someone who suffers from the disease of addiction you await the phone call. There will be a phone call. The sincere hope is that the call will be from the addict themselves, telling you they've had enough, that they're ready to stop, ready to try something new. Of course though, you fear the other call, the sad nocturnal chime from a friend or relative telling you it's too late...Frustratingly it's not a call you can ever make it must be received. It is impossible to intervene."The phone calls stopped. I used to get calls to ask how I was doing, to ask about how work was going, to invite me out for a drink. But I don't get those anymore. And frankly, I don't give a damn if I ever receive a casual phone call ever again...as long as I eventually get the phone call telling me they've had enough.
"Life is very interesting... in the end, some of your greatest pains, become your greatest strengths."
Drew Barrymore discussing addiction.
