Crazed In the Kitchen: Philip Seymour Hoffman--What Does Addiction "Look" Like?   

Monday, February 3, 2014

Philip Seymour Hoffman--What Does Addiction "Look" Like?

Like a lot of people, I was shocked to learn that Philip Seymour Hoffman died of an apparent drug overdose yesterday. I had no idea that he had struggled with addiction—relapsing last year after staying clean for over two decades. Because Hoffman had somehow managed to achieve and maintain both critical acclaim and a (relatively) low public profile, his was a celebrity death that many of us never saw coming.
Photo credit: www.tvweek.com

So, I spent some time yesterday thinking about Hoffman and why his addiction and death surprised me so much. Other public figures have succumbed to addiction and, while their deaths felt tragic and unnecessary, they weren’t this much of a shock to me. I guess I think first of Amy Winehouse. She was inarguably an incredibly talented singer who had achieved great commercial success and critical acclaim. But her struggles with substance abuse were as well-known as her beehive and eyeliner. I was sad to hear of her overdose death, but I was not shocked.  

So what was it about Hoffman’s death that left me standing frozen, mouth agape, staring in shock at a tiny TV at the gym?

I think it was that my impression of Hoffman was that he was one of the few in his field who were not only wildly talented, but also widely respected by fans, critics, and fellow actors alike. He didn’t seem to be in it for the celebrity, the parties, the fancy houses, the vacations, or the babes—and he somehow kept his private life mostly private. I’ve been known to check out celebrity magazines and websites, and I rarely saw him discussed or photographed there. He seemed to be a down-to-earth guy who took his craft very seriously.

In short, he didn’t “look” to me like an addict.

And in realizing that, I realized that along with my shock I was a little ashamed. Because in my mind, I “knew” what addicts look like. I mean, I knew enough to know that they don’t always look like the scruffy, strung-out homeless guy on the corner. But I figured that they were obvious, like Amy Winehouse. And, of course, this isn’t true. Anyone, anywhere could be wrestling with any number of demons and seem—on the outside—to be just “fine.” This goes for celebrities, but also for the rest of us “regular” people too.

So I guess the lesson I’m taking away from all this is to try even harder to be gentle with people. The slow driver ahead of me in the fast lane, the distracted grocery store clerk, the unfriendly receptionist at the pediatrician’s office: It could be that they are all just jerks—but it’s unlikely. And while it’s also unlikely that they are all heroin addicts, it’s quite possible that they are facing some struggle I can’t begin to know. And who knows, maybe the kindness I show them will be paid forward to someone else.

21 comments:

  1. A poignant retrospective on a talented man. Thank you for your insight and gentleness...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have no idea who this man is, but he looks sort of familiar. We've been called to a particular area of my city several times for drug overdose deaths and almost all of the people we've found stooped over dead in the Jack in the Box restroom or nearby alley were white, middle class young people who were probably pretty innocuous normally. While I can't get on board with not being mean to the slow driver in the fast lane, I do love the idea of being nice to everybody else!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Apparently heroin use is on the rise lately as more and more people who previously abused pain pills are finding it easier and cheaper to obtain. Scary stuff.

      Delete
  3. Yes, yes and yes. My feelings exactly. Something about his death felt closer to home because he seem like an everyday person.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly. And it turns out, there are increasing numbers of "everyday" people turning to heroin. Scary.

      Delete

  4. Hello just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your content seem to be running off the screen in Internet explorer. I'm not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with browser compatibility but I figured I'd post to let you know. The design look great though! Hope you get the issue resolved soon. Thanks paypal account login

    ReplyDelete
  5. I can set up my new idea from this post. It gives in depth information. Thanks for this valuable information for all,.. rehab

    ReplyDelete
  6. Drug addiction affects the whole selection of human experience -- both physical body and the emotional being. Having said that, too many drug rehab facilities simply pay attention to area of the problem: the physical effects of drug abuse.  rehabnear.me

    ReplyDelete
  7. This was a really great contest and hopefully I can attend the next one. It was alot of fun and I really enjoyed myself.. drug detox

    ReplyDelete
  8. The organization's individuals meet nearly each week, in which they talk the issues that they're dealing with due to being alcohol structured, how they need to kick the addiction, how they have got controlled to get out of the fast sands of alcoholism and what are the fine and poor adjustments of their lives due to alcoholism and due to eliminating it.AA meeting directory

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you The international travelers who travel to Kenya need visas Kenya. That they can apply online and can get the 24*7 customer assistant.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your post was very nicely written. I’ll be back in the future for sure! amouranth nude

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great work.. Thanks for this post. Foreign travelers who wish to apply for Azerbaijan visa must check the azerbaijan visa for us citizen requirement before filling the application.

    ReplyDelete

  12. I find your articles to be informative. I feel they are more helpful. I suggest if you would like to visit India, e visa to India, you could find more information about Indian e visas. You can visit our India e visa website to learn more.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you for this wonderful blog. I found it very helpful. I look forward to reading more of your articles in the future. Travelers can get information about India tourist visa for US citizens directly for e-visas online. A web-based application was developed by the Indian government so that visa applications could be submitted online quickly and easily.

    ReplyDelete
  14. It was very useful for me. Keep sharing such ideas in the future as well. This was actually what I was looking for, and I am glad to have come here! Visa for Turkey from US is electronic travel authorizations provided by the Turkish government to citizens of the United States. In contrast to a regular visa, this one is for travelers who do not want to apply for a visa in advance and wish to travel to Turkey.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love the way you explain your article. It's easy to read and understandable. I want to know articles like this. People have the option to apply for an e visa of Turkey online which is a hassle free process. And its time and cost saving also.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Your blog post takes readers on a literary expedition, with each paragraph revealing new depths of profound thought. The eloquent prose creates vibrant landscapes of ideas, captivating the mind. It's a symphony of intellect and expression, orchestrating a harmonious exploration. Your narrative finesse guarantees an immersive experience, leaving an indelible mark.

    ReplyDelete

Comments make me feel special...Don't be shy!