Had several friends/family go through serious addiction. Seen in first hand in and around my life and home, and been a part of the battle. Good luck to Odom - it's a constant uphill battle until he dies, whether as an 80-year old of natural causes or via drug-related causes.
Clapton kicked it using the method Pete Townsend used..electro shock therapy I think. I had a friend of 20 years I played tennis with regularly who was a closet junkie and found him dead one morning in his apartment...38 years old, beautiful girlfriend, good job..I tried to intervene for 2 years and in the end he told me nothing compared to the drug and how it solved all his issues...had his toes removed from needle induced gangrene..it's a death dance and if someone wants to die..they'll figure a way to do it. It's a cowardly drug
I happy to report that after about a year of no smoking my desire to smoke vanished. havent had a craving in ages, even while drinking. Funny think about drinking is that wine is my new profession. I'm back in school studying enology and viticulture (all things wine) and working at a winery. I live in wine country and go wine tasting several times a week. But I've learned my lessons, so I rarely get drunk and exercise daily to offset the calories.
Yeah it's easy to judge people with mental illness and with an addictive personality but until you're in their shoes, you haven't a clue what they are going through or what their story is. Stop being judgemental.
Funny. I smoked every day for years then about a year ago my lungs started to hurt and I had X-rays. I'd tried everything but nothing worked. But I swore to God if I was healthy then I would never smoke again. The X-rays were negative and I don't smoke any more. Guess I am too paranoid to break THAT promise.
Meanwhile, many people do successfully quit heroin and crack. Two of my best friends used to have big problems with both, neither has touched the stuff in over a decade. Both are quite successful now financially and with awesome loving families. There is hope that Lamar and others figure it out before it's too late.
Just because it's self inflicted doesn't mean it's not sad. A lot of homeless people are due to self inflicted issues...doesn't make it less sad that they are homeless. Jesus man, don't you want HUMANITY to do well?
So you don't think mental health illnesses are sad? Because there are rumors some of these people are bipolar, depressed etc. Man, I thought Lillard was cold blooded...
At the time I quit I was actively doing laboratory research on certain inflammatory pathways including one induced by cigarettes. I came in one day to check the cells in the incubator (we used a condensed liquid cigarette smoke) and the damp warm invironment wafted that smell over me. It was so nasty I dry heaved. I knew all the facts, I knew people with cancer from it, but it was that smell that struck me to the core.
I get tipsy and love it. But I've learned where the line is. Usually. As far as the calories, I'm still 30lbs above where I want to be, and I know what it's like to weigh over 300, so the calories don't excite me in the least. Maybe I'll make the first diet wine (kidding)
That's likely part of their problem. I wasn't passing judgement. My comment was directed at those passing judgement on Odom.
While it is sad, it is also sometimes infuriating. It is easier to understand with people who have underlying problems (EG PTSD or Bi-Polar). Watching a guy like Odom (or Colt Lyerla) have so much and just chuck it away? That's when I start getting frustrated.