The Kennedy Family On Addiction

I recently had the opportunity to stop in at The Brattle Theater in Cambridge for a discussion hosted by Harvard Book Store.  Featured speakers included Christopher Kennedy Lawford and former Congressman Patrick Kennedy.  The subject was addiction, something that has plagued the two cousins for years.  Lawford is the son of Peter Lawford, well-known actor, member of the Rat Pack and a notorious alcoholic.  I remember reading years ago that Peter Lawford was once told by his physician that if he did not stop drinking immediately he was in danger of dying.  He continued to drink heavily.

Patrick Kennedy introduced his cousin Christopher, author of the new book RECOVER TO LIVE.  He spoke eloquently about the 22 million people in this country with a chemical dependency, reducing the stigma and shame of addiction and moving toward a health care system that includes ongoing treatment for addiction and the often-underlying mental health issues (70% of the time).  He called for a mental health parity along the lines for treatment of such afflictions as diabetes and asthma, something that currently does not take place.  He raised questions like:  "Do we really need oxycodone?" Knowing full well how highly addictive it is, he called for alternative treatments.

Lawford has been in recovery for 26 years.  "So much of addiction is running away from something," he said.  We are all running away from something, we're just wearing different sneakers.  In my case, I was like Imelda Marcos," he joked as a way of saying that he tried many substances to escape.  "Drugs and alcohol become a way to cope  and we need healthy ways to cope and have a sense of identity, the arts, music, sports, rather than to go and light up every time we have a disappointment."

The book also deals with a variety of toxic compulsions, which he said he really had to fight for with the publishers.  Whether the addiction is to a substance or a process, it is the same.  Thus, addictions such as gambling and hoarding are covered, as well.  Over 100 experts were consulted in researching the book.

It was very refreshing to see two members of such a prominent American family speak so open and honestly about their personal struggles with addiction, freeing up the possibility of reducing the shame.    "I had to leave Congress to achieve my recovery," Kennedy joked.  There are many issues involved.  "So many people who are addicted do not want to come into treatment," Lawford said.  It's part of the stigma.  "The disease presents horribly," he admitted.  That's another part of the problem, where the addiction is thought by many to be just a character flaw.

One of the most interesting questions asked by the audience was about the very cause of addictions.  Why can't a gene be identified?  Couldn't there be an inoculation or medication for those with the identified gene?  But there is no gold standard for addiction.  It is the result of heredity, biological, psychological and social pressures.  "There is also a spiritual element," Lawford said.  It affects each person differently.  Great food for thought in the light of all the recent focus on violence and mental illness.  It is also important to know that most crimes are committed by those under the influence of some substance.  I applaud them for bringing this subject out in the open.  As Kennedy said:  "We are standing on the threshold of grappling with this issue and really making substantial improvements but it will only happen with political activism, people calling for a change."