We hear so much on the news these days about those who are battling addictions. The latest, in addition, to the ones we have seen repeatedly on television such as Britney Spears, Nicole Richie, and Lindsay Lohan, now include Marie Osmond's sixteen-year-old son. She confirmed last week to Larry King that, indeed, her son was in rehab. Addiction problems though are not just a concern of the very young people of the world.
One of my acquaintances recently shared her life story with a few of us. Since her husband had been addicted to alcohol, she had been active in Al-Anon for years. After his death, she began to drink more and more herself. After counseling with a mutual friend, she was given a booklet to read entitled "The Functioning Alcoholic." After reading it, she said, "Ah S***" and soon joined AA.
My own addiction to a prescribed medication came while I was in my mid-twenties as a young professional and mother of a toddler. I developed a back problem, went to a general practitioner, and was given Valium. The physician assured me it was the mildest of muscle relaxers and posed no health problem or possibility of addiction. When I decided to get pregnant again, I knew that I had to wean myself from this drug; though it kept me very calm and my back problem had disappeared by then, I instinctively felt the drug might cause harm to a developing fetus. I was four months into my second pregnancy before I was able to reduce the dosage day by day until I was completely off the drug. Later, medical studies showed that the drug was very addictive, and many fetuses had been harmed by it. Thankfully, mine was not among them.
I do not know what solution is available for those who battle addictions other than family suport, rehab, and God. If the Osmonds can fall, there is probably no hope for the rest of us. I am afraid that those "Ah S***" moments will continue well into the future.
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