Affleck’s relapse this summer comes just weeks after Demi Lovato’s reported overdose in July.
by David Dietz, Jennifer Martin and Craig Werner / Aug.24.2018 / 1:04 PM ET
This story originally appeared on NBC News. A link to the original story appears at the bottom of this article.
Affleck is at least the second high-profile celebrity relapse this summer. Earlier this spring, pop star Demi Lovato tweeted: “Just officially turned 6 years sober. So grateful for another year of joy, health and happiness. It IS possible.” In June, she released her single “Sober,” which seemed to describe a relapse (“We’ve been down this road before/I’m so sorry, I’m not sober anymore”) — a few weeks later, she was hospitalized after a suspected overdose.
Lovato eventually canceled the rest of her tour performances and released a statement emphasizing the long-term nature of addiction. “What I’ve learned is that this illness is not something that disappears or fades with time,” she told followers on Instagram. “It is something I must continue to overcome and have not done yet.”
It was a strikingly similar statement to one Affleck posted on Facebook last year: “I have completed treatment for alcohol addiction; something I’ve dealt with in the past and will continue to confront. I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be. I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step.”
It’s a problem that’s all too common. Substance use disorder (more commonly known as “drug addiction”) is a never-ending battle. No matter the substance that is being abused, there is no shortcut or magic cure.
Read more here https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/ben-affleck-rehab-star-s-relapse-offers-yet-another-important-ncna903396
