Robert DowneyJr.

 Robert Downey Jr. - Fallen Star ?

by David L. Hill, CADC

The Fall

TUESDAY MAY 1, 2001

"http://www.dailybulletin.com" Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Once a again we have witnessed the arrest of an American celebrity, a
falling star, caught in  the web of addiction brought to the forefront of the
public eye.
On April 24, the drama continues with
yet another drug arrest for the Oscar nominated actor, Robert  Downey Jr.
As a result he was fired from his guest appearance on the TV show "Ally McBeal"
which he plays a lawyer.
Downey is the current entertainer to allow us to observe the pathology of the power of addiction and the jealous rage of its destructive grasp on the life of an otherwise brilliant human being.
Imprisonment, the loss of employment and public humiliation are seemingly discounted during the decision making process of this star addict.
Why does an addict return to drug use with a clear intellectual knowledge
of predictable negative consequences?

The Original First Step of the Alcoholics Anonymous may suggest the answer.
It consists of two words: Complete Deflation. ("Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous The revised and current step is: We, admitted we were powerless over alcohol and that our
lives had become unmanageable.”)
The idea is that a person will not I change until they are able to listen.
They may not be able to listen until they abandon their beliefs that are inconsistent with the reality of chronic addiction and their personal inability to use drugs and alcohol safely. Therefore; it seems that loss is in order until reality is honored.
Father Joseph- Martin, a nationally recognized addiction expert suggests that the will of the addict becomes disabled as the addiction progresses. Simply put, willpower isn’t a contender against the aggressive nature of the cycle of addiction. The addict may be deluded by their own thoughts.

One example is Audrey Kushline, the author of "Moderation Management" who is serving a prison sentence due to the drunken driving manslaughter of two people in 1996.
Her book promotes the idea that moderation in drinking is possible through self-discipline and that alcoholism is not necessarily a disease.
But apparently wasn't applicable for her.
Since that time she has renounced her former
philosophy;but her insight is too late
for the victims of her intoxification and
their families.
Alcoholics Anonymous textbook,"The Big Book," suggests
that the destiny of the addict without intervention is "jails, institutions and death".

Hopefully Robert Downey Jr. will somehow grasp a life of
quality sobriety without destruction of himself and others in the process.

David L. Hill, CADC  is the Program Manager for
the Center for Addiction Medicine @
San Antonio Community Hospital in Upland, California

©Copyright 2001 by David L. Hill,CADC II

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