Dear Mr. Editor
As it is the season of debate, with both the Leeward Islands Debating Competition and the Republican Primaries in the US in full swing, after reading Pastor Philip Gumbs’ article ‘Whitney Houston & Heaven’s Physicians’ in last week’s issue of The Anguillian (p25) I was in the mood for a rebuttal. The general theme of the article suggested that Miss Houston’s various addictions were ungodly and may, in some way, have led her on the path towards hell. Speaking from the point of view of someone who has been studying and working in the addiction field for nearly ten years, and with all due respect to Pastor Gumbs, I had some issues with the article.
The last thing people who are suffering from an addiction to alcohol or other drugs need to hear is that they are somewhat less than worthy of God’s blessing, or that their addiction might in some way be putting them on a path towards ‘hell’. Indeed, the guilt this may cause could make their situation worse. It’s difficult enough for persons who are presenting with addictive behaviour to come forward and ask for help without them being led to believe that their addiction makes them a ‘bad’, in some way, or not worthy of a place in heaven. People who are suffering from addiction need an environment where they feel comfortable to seek help – not one where they hide away because they fear that their use might bring shame on themselves or their families.
Just because somebody is addicted to a drug does not make him or her a ‘bad’ person. Sometimes addiction can lead to erratic or ‘bad’ behaviour, such as stealing to feed the addiction or the neglect of children. All addictive drugs affect the pre-frontal lobe of the brain. This part of the brain is involved with impulse control and gives us the ability to use our morals to guide us in what is ‘right’ and what is ‘wrong’. So this area of the brain has to be intact for the person to use their morals to guide their behaviour. This part of the brain is also involved in appreciating the consequences of our own actions. The addiction is playing a huge role in impacting this part of the brain which leads to individuals, who are addicted to drugs like cocaine, presenting in behaviour that prior to their addiction they would not have perceived as possible. They are behaving in ways that clearly indicate that their perception of ‘right and wrong’ has been seriously skewed by their addiction.
Addicts don’t want to be addicts. Drugs of abuse change the mechanisms in the brain that the person needs in order to stop taking the drug. The brain is telling him or her that there is nothing more important for his or her survival than to stimulate that part of the brain again even if the consequences may lead to arrest or even death. Addiction is not a lifestyle choice. To support this, some perspective could be found after visiting a ‘shooting gallery’ for heroin addicts in Vancouver, or talking to people receiving treatment for methamphetamine addictions in a residential rehab. What about persons who become addicted or dependent on prescription drugs prescribed to them by their physician? This is a major problem in theUSat present. Many of these are opiate based pain-killers which act on the pre-frontal lobe of the brain in much the same way as the more recognized drugs of abuse do.
We don’t know how Whitney Houston died as toxicology reports are not back as yet, but it was rumored that she was on the prescription drug ‘Xanax’ to treat anxiety. This drug has a depressant effect on the central nervous system, slowing down the heart rate. If, hypothetically, Miss Houston was also drinking alcohol (another depressant drug) at the same time, she may well have overdosed on the combined effects of both drugs.
Addiction does not discriminate and can affect all members of the community – rich, poor, gay, straight, black or white. It can affect anyone. Fortunately, the vast majority of people will not be affected by addiction but it can affect people for various reasons and at different stages in life.
People who are affected by drug addiction should not be seen as morally weak and judged as so. They need our understanding, help and support. For people whom addiction does not affect, they should be truly thankful.
Iain Bibby
