TELL ME YOU LOVE ME

Overnight, it was reported that Demi Lovato has been taken to hospital in Los Angeles for treatment of a suspected overdose.

It was reported that the 25-year-old pop star and mental health activist had been found unconscious at the scene, and treated with naloxone, an anti-opioid medicine, leading to allegations that the singer overdosed on an opiate.

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We have deliberately chosen not to air these views in this article, but they’re out there.

This is not only wrong when held to account against psychological research and knowledge, it’s also severely damaging to those who suffer with mental illness and addiction, because it totally places all blame onto the person suffering, instead of offering them the support, help and understanding that they actually need to get better. Below, we explain why this is wrong by taking a look at the facts.

What is addiction?

According to Mind, the UK’s leading mental health charity, most people who suffer from an addiction have an underlying mental health problem. Often, the drug addiction is used by the sufferer as a way of coping with feelings that the sufferer doesn’t feel able to deal with in any other way.

This alone indicates that the sufferer shouldn’t be blamed for their behaviour, but instead should be supported, and treated for the underlying issue causing the use of drugs or alcohol. The American Psychiatric Association describes an addiction as a chronic brain disease manifested by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequence.

Addiction is a chronic relapsed brain disease where people use drugs despite the fact they have harmful consequences. People with addictive behaviour have distorted thinking and body functions. Changes in the brain’s wiring are what cause intense cravings for the drug, and make it very hard to stop using, according to the American Psychiatric Association.