Wealth, fame, and addiction

George Carlin (or Robin Williams, depending on the source) said it well,

"Drugs (cocaine) are God's way of telling you that you make too much money."

We are seeing that very thing played out with Michael Jackson. It's one glaring example of the progressive nature of the disease. Mr. Jackson had 2 things that allowed him to continue using mood altering substances until it finally killed him...

• money
• sycophantic enablers (fawning parasite; A servile self-seeker who attempts to win favor by flattering influential people)

By the very nature of the disease, an addict is incapable of stopping by their own force of will. This is why some sort of intervention is required to get them into treatment. Once they detox and their brain begins to recuperate, THEN the education and techniques provided by evidence-based treatment can actually be retained and used to stay "clean".

Intervention takes many forms. The most common type is what we see on the A&E television show "Intervention". It's a technique used to create a "bottom", that magical place and time where the addict will enter treatment. For an addict with unlimited resources and surrounded by people who will give them whatever they want, that bottom is death.

Intervention is difficult. It appears to go against all definitions of love and logic. But continuing to "rescue" the addict from the consequences of their drug misuse allows them to continue to believe they are in control. The longer it takes to get the person into treatment, the more the disease progresses and the tougher it becomes to effectively treat the disease. When you are surrounded by people who want to please you just to be near you, the intervention is unlikely to take place. Or, if someone tries to make it happen, the sycophantic enablers sabotage the very thing designed to help the addict.

Yes, there has been unethical, unprofessional, and undoubtedly criminal activity involved in the death of Mr. Jackson. However, the medical providers aren't the only people to be held accountable (although I have no doubt that's exactly what will happen). Mr. Jackson's family and employees share that responsibility as well.

I hope Mr. Jackson's life is studied closely in order to learn the valuable lessons it holds. While he was an unparalleled entertainer with unlimited talent, his troubled life and premature death could provide the positive move forward when dealing with all apsects of the disease called addiction.