Coincidentally a member of my extended family just passed away at the age of 30; it was his second drug overdose in a three day period (two days before he was taken in an ambulance, got back home, and did it again one final time.). He had been a serious drug addict since he was a teenager and basically messed up his life over and over and over again. They tried too many rehab clinics to list, therapies, Methadone, live-in supervision, and in the end, he ultimately came to terms with the idea that he would always be an addict no matter what, after many tries at getting sober.
I won’t cast that same same shadow over Josh Gordon without knowing his situation or character. What I do know is that expectations, fame, success, or money are unlikely to deter someone who is deeply addicted to drugs to stop using them. Gordon has had a lot at stake for many years but has not been able to shake it. I hope that he figures out a way to stay sober, though being in the public spotlight and having expectations from millions of people may not be the best thing for him. Many people see addiction as a choice or something you can overcome if you are motivated or have something to live for. It’s a lot more powerful than that. I really hope, beyond just being a Patriots fan, that he is able to find the power within and that a change of environment and perhaps a new support system will help him not just for his football career but for the the rest of his life.
If he does relapse, I really hope the reaction isn’t along the lines of “How was this not the perfect situation for him? This was the opportunity of a lifetime!” There is already such a misundersanding about substance abuse out there, and these sentiments just make people more ashamed to seek help since they think they have more control over it than they actually do.
I took it meant he was faking being a slacker so that he could turn the afterburners on when the cornerback let down his guard. That tricky Moss!
