October 30, 2013
This A- list mostly movie actor who is an Academy Award winner/nominee forgot to pick up his kid(s) from school because he was using drugs and ended up having to call someone to pick up his kid(s). This is a tragic tale going on and he needs some help.
Philip Seymour Hoffman (This would have been revealed today anyway because of the date but it is kind of eerie that almost the same thing happened the morning he died)
Too soon..
ReplyDeleteToo soon?? Should have been revealed back in October.
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DeleteWould have been ideal if someone could have done something to get him back to rehab and get clean and sober..
DeleteHowever, since PSH hasn't even had his funeral yet it would have been nice if the Enties had waited a bit..
So sad
ReplyDeleteHeartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteYeah too sad and too soon
ReplyDeleteಠ_ಠ
ReplyDeleteWe miss you PSH.
ReplyDeleteoh call the whambulance. Sick of hearing about this selfish junkie. I don't care if this is a wildly unpopular statement to make by anyones standard's. Why does there NOW seem to be the need to round up drug dealers in Manhattan because Philip Seymour Hoffman who had the whole world by the balls, went and pissed his life away. Never mind the countless lives these same drug dealers ruined prior to last week
ReplyDelete@Derek
DeleteI was thinking the same thing this morning.
So true! Proves that law enforcement work to serve and protect the dominant and wealthy in society, while continuing to marginalize and forget about the minority, middle/poor classes. Shame. Thousands of regular civilians succumb to the perils of addiction, but some millionaire celebs dies from OD and they're going after his alleged dealers..GMAFB
DeleteWell stated.
DeleteI get what you're saying but I think the various drug task forces were hoping to nab the fentanyl laced heroin that has had scores of ppl OD'ing. They've been trying to trace its source before he died.
DeleteMy Mom's a Jedi psychologist with 25 years in practice specializing in addiction and family therapy. When I remarked comments similar to yours about him, my Mom replied:
Delete'Each case is different. He put himself in rehab not that long ago and has battled this for 30 years. He probably had "it" worse. Never judge someone who has a long history of addiction with long periods of sobriety.'
It's not our place to judge. Respect the dead..
I'm with Derek on this. It's a tragedy, but PSH did this to himself knowing the risks. I think ALL PSH blinds should be revealed so people know just how bad things can get if you shoot up.
ReplyDeleteYou didn't have to reveal it at all @Entybot you are not revealing every blind from every day. If you were we'd still be in September.
ReplyDeleteI wish he could have had some intervention or sober companion... I am so glad to hear about people like Joaquin Phoenix and Michelle Williams going to their house everyday to help the family cope with their loss. Other celbrities are as well but these two in particular having lost loved ones due to drug loss I would imagine they have a lot of love to share at this time
ReplyDeleteAaron Sorkin quoted Hoffman as saying: "If one of us dies of an overdose, probably ten people who were about to won't." Before adding: "He meant that our deaths would make news and maybe scare someone clean."
ReplyDeleteI thought I would get crucified for that one but needed to get it off my chest and I was a fan of his films and all but him going around telling strangers about being a junkie and buying sooo much heroin at once--he just comes across as a selfish drama queen who could give a damn about his family.
ReplyDelete@Derek, thank you! Would these same people be saying how sad it was and how it was such a tragic loss if it had just been a guy living under a bridge? These Hollywood junkies selfishly do this to themselves and their families and they become martyrs to the evil drug culture (Ledger DOES NOT win the Academy Award for his role as the Joker if he doesn't die) but then turn around and say a local guy is a loser for doing the exact same thing. Hoffman got famous for doing an impression of a short gay writer who in turn got famous for writing a book about his gay lover who ended up hanging for butchering a family. The real victims of these crimes/drug deaths are never thought of. PSH wasn't a tragic victim of drugs, he was a selfish bastard that knew everytime he stuck a needle in his arm he was playing russian roulette.
ReplyDeletei don't believe in too soon. he's dead and I doubt his widow (yeah I know they were actually married) is reading here.
ReplyDeleteI think any addict's story is a sad one. And I also think their stories need to be shared. It is fascinating how much media play this is getting. I can understand the outrage a la Derek.
ReplyDeleteWhen a celebrity dies and people act like their own family member died, I kinda scratch my head. I don't really understand the emotional outpouring over an actor who you don't even know.
With all due respect, anyone who thinks that addicts -- in particular heroin addicts -- are merely selfish assholes must not understand how the brain literally changes due to addiction. Once the body is dependent on a substance like heroin, the brain is no longer the person's own. Chemicals change and are no longer released, grooves and patterns are worn away in the mapping of the brain...it's a completely biological/medical thing at that point. Some people can get clean but their brains may never be the same again.
ReplyDeleteHere's another thing. They found about 50 bags of heroin in Hoffman's home. NOBODY keeps that kind of stash for themselves. I think the reason they are so intent of finding his dealers is because Hoffman was a big time dealer in Hollywood. Make some arrests so people think that they got the "bad guys" so that info doesn't come out that this "poor, tragic soul" was pushing to all the big time Hollywood stars and execs.
ReplyDeleteMy best friend died from a drug overdose (actually from strychnine poisoning from what they were cutting it with), we came forward with the names of the guys that were selling it to him. Guess what happened to them? Not a Goddamn thing. Why? They were also selling to the (then) prosecuting attorney and the mayors kids. They made some arrests of other dealers in the area, but the people they had actual evidence against and people willing to take the stand got away scott free because it would embarrass people in power. I'm happy to say that in the end the guy that actually sold it to him died at a railroad crossing when his car died on one and he fell asleep and the other one walks with a limp now after some people beat the shit out of him for some reason and broke both his legs and his jaw. (No idea who did that and I'll take that story to my grave)
50 bags of heroin is nothing to a real user.
DeleteThat's like saying I'm a dealer if I buy a half oz. of weed.
"too soon"
ReplyDeleteHuh?
It isn't like you knew him personally.
Is it sad Hoffman died?
ReplyDeleteYes.
It is a tragedy?
No.
He brought it all on himself.
The idea that we should be in national mourning for some extended period of time is silly.
You want a tragedy?
Visit your local Ronald McDonald's house or Children's Hospital and go see a 6 year old with lymphoma.
I'm sure his three children would disagree. That's where the tragedy lies.
DeleteI agree it's hard to have sympathy for Hoffman, but I do have sympathy for his family. I lost my ex-husband to a speedball overdose. I don't buy 'it was an impulse, he was an addict and couldn't stop'. He could have stopped prior to making a call to his dealer, prior to walking to the ATM to get money, before opening the first baggie he could have tossed it away. Could have stopped before bending the spoon back and putting flame beneath it or cotton and water in it to mix with the heroin. It is utter bullshit. He could has changed his mind at any point along the way. He loved drugs more than his life, his partner/wife, and his kids. That is despicable in my mind. Sorry for the rant. Touches a nerve way to close to home for me.
ReplyDeleteWell said! Thank you for saying what needs to be said.
DeleteAgree he was no hero or martyr.
ReplyDelete@derek, totally agree.
ReplyDeleteEven though it is true that drugs change a persons brain, PHS was sober for over 20 years, his brain learned to cope, he was selfish to relapse and not seek the help he needed. It was not new to him, he had alreay tasted the fruits of sobrierity for a long time.
@rowdy, it must be us achingly frustrating for all those parents, spouses and children to see his authorities raced to find PHS' dealers, yet their dearly beloved ones were just brushed off as "junkies who were supposed to die, anyway". It is so horrible.
@AKM, I understand that. As someone who has studied neuroscience as a part of trying to help himself heal from a major brain injury (I literally lost the use of the left side of my brain after a stroke and have tried to learn to basically rewire my entire brain little by little in a way) I know how the brain releases certain chemicals and any changes to that can change a person forever. However, I say he was selfish because he knew that he had hardwired himself to feel the need of heroin's effects, yet chose not to have someone help him with those feelings of need. Even before my stroke I was addicted to pain pills. There wasn't anything I didn't take (always had prescriptions, though. I just lied about the injuries and would go to the doc and get something and say they didn't work and needed something stronger. I could get away with it because I did have some things like no cartilage in my knees from a form of muscular dystrophy and things like that). However, I quit them and still to this day I want them. My Dad has them right now on his dresser for his back and knees, but I don't do them. Why? Everytime I think about it my Dad reminds me what I went through 15 years ago and what it did to not just me but my family. I hear that and I just forget about it.
ReplyDeleteHoffman needed someone that would tell him no. That's the problem with stars, they have so many people telling them how great they are and how they know better than anyone else, they feel invincible. For God's sake, this is award season, the time of the year these douchebags get together and tell each other how great they are at playing pretend.
I stand by that he was selfish because he knew the risks, he knew his kids could grow up with the stigma of having a father die of an OD and still went ahead and did it. That is selfish and having your pain and pleasure receptors rewired doesn't change that.
But hey, that's just like my opinion.
I agree with most of you folks here...I don't like the idea of the glamorous junkie. Someone like PSH is no better or no worse than the crack den junkie. All the talent and awards mean nothing when you have a needle in your arm. I know that money doesn't buy happiness, but it can buy the best therapy and rehab facilities. It can give a celebrity the freedom to take time off from projects and get healthy. I don't think the industry or in some cases the hangers on support that.
ReplyDeleteRowdy - You bring up an interesting point about PSH being a dealer. When I read the amount of heroin they found, that thought popped into my mind as well. Who keeps that much around for personal use? Maybe he did because he's famous and can't go out and buy a baggie every day without it being noticed, but it still seems odd.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with PSH being a 'dealer' - 50 bags is only 5 bundles! When I was using, I could EASILY do that much in a day (usually 1/2 a day!)... Where do you people get your information from?
ReplyDeleteAmazing what a couple of days makes. Good thing you waited a couple of days Derek or you would have been ripped apart with all the crying and hero worship from a couple of days ago.
ReplyDeleteWell, I wish none of this would have happened and that he was at home with his partner and kids.
ReplyDelete@katjans i completely agree. the amount he had in his apt did not surprise me. when i was at my worst usage wise i could go thru a bun or two a day (10-20) so him having 70 or so is just a weeks worth.
ReplyDeleteAgree on the real tragedy being the wife and kids left behind. That's a scar that will take a long time, if ever, to heal properly.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I have little sympathy for junkies. One is wrecking my inlaws' lives right now, and it's hard watching this go down. They continue to enable the selfish lout, and no one else can do a thing. It makes me sick.
I have sympathy for the situation but I like the reveals after the fact of something like this. I don't know why everyone gets suddenly all offended
ReplyDelete@Kat Jans - I guess it's more of a lack of info from never having been a heroin addict so it seems like an extraordinary amount.
ReplyDeleteTots agree, Derek. I come from a very troubled city that is being ravaged by heroin horribly. Yes, PSH's passing is sad, but so too are are the deaths in my hometown and in other towns all over the world. Drug addiction is a vice if the person is poor, and even more so if they're of color. If it's a rich white man, then it's suddenly a tragic "disease."
ReplyDelete@rowdy After years of lurking I have joined today just to say thanks for sharing your story. Stay strong.
ReplyDeleteRowdy, I hear what you're saying and I respect your opinion. No one can deny that people in the grips of addiction can do some horrific and selfish things. I guess I'm just a more positive-psychology/strengths-based type who says "it's the behavior that's selfish, not the addict." Or something like that, you know? By all accounts (that *I've* read, at least), he sounded like an actually kind guy at his core who went out of his way for coworkers and fans. It also sounded like he tried to be a good father as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteI think we can all agree that the whole thing is just sad any way we look at it, even though he was a celebrity that none/most of us never met. Thanks for a respectful rebuttal.
AKM, I know we're hardwired, my drug is alcohol. Its been 10 years and every day, I want to drink. Not to become the insane user I was reduced to but for the absolute acceptance, peace and joy that my early days of use gave me.
DeleteIts a continuing struggle.
To have someone with 20 years go back out scares me and fills me with rage.
RAGE! He knew what to do! Who to call! Where to Find help.
Every day I was going to quit so i know it lived in his mind Every day he picked up. Tomorrow...
To Hell with him.
That facetious comment about " helping" other users with the notoriety from a famous O D?.... I want to beat him senseless
For every person who has struggled with sobriety, he showed us Why fight it, its gonna get ya in the end.
Thanks PSH...a lot.
As much as I can understand the triggers and the needs and the preexisting condition ( I live it) it doesn't make you pick up. You have to choose to say Fuck it.
Once that decision is made is when we accept we're going to die because you're right AKM, our brain is going to never be deprived again and will trick and trap us into using more and more.
It takes tremendous struggle to quit and when you're using Death is sooo nice and peaceful ...
Life , with all its worries and responsibilities is Worth the struggle...but God, it sucks sometimes...
(And also...keep on keepin' on, sir. Hugs to you.)
ReplyDelete@ Derek harsh. But why dont the drug enforcement officers go to this much trouble with all of the ' everyday people' ?
ReplyDeleteHow do you know they dont? Of course you only hear about the famous cases.
DeleteHave to agree with Basil. Hope this forces others to get help. PSH dead and the musician/dealer looking at probably 20 years in jail should be a wake up call for many.
ReplyDeleteMust be nice to be in such a lofty position in life that you feel free to judge someone else, even though you have ZERO understanding of why PSH did what he did, which is clearly obvious.
ReplyDelete@MadLyb----you are right. I have zero understanding of doing heroin and I never will. Call me insane.
ReplyDeleteIt's not about heroin. It's about addiction. Heroin is a symptom of a bigger problem. How about never taking a drink, sip of caffeine, puff a smoke, bite of sugar, trip to Vegas and remaining abstinent for the rest of your life before you try to sit on that high horse and judge.
ReplyDeleteShinobi--did your mom tell you that as well? Please don't compare drinking a coffee to choosing to try heroin.
ReplyDelete+1
Delete@derek
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ReplyDelete@Derek
ReplyDeleteIf you can only apply two dimensional thinking to what I'm trying to say, then that ignorance is on you.
This link says they found 70 bags of heroin in PSH's apartment. I don't know how to make it a link.
ReplyDeletehttp://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/02/04/authorities-working-to-determine-purity-of-heroin-found-in-philip-seymour-hoffmans-home
The apartment was renting for $10,000 a month.
I'm going to say Rowdy is correct about why there was so much ish in the apartment.
I also hope Rowdy stays strong.
I dont think the police worked harder because it was high profile case however because it was high profile another user rolled on the dealers because that person had seen PSH at the dealers and knew he could cut a deal w that sort of info.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for the kind words of well wishes. I'm doing fine and when I get frustrated or just need to talk, I got a special girl here I can talk to. We all know who it is lol
ReplyDeleteOne has to wonder if something like this will take other actors and actresses with addiction ( I'm looking at you, Angelina Jolie! ) to straighten up and fly right.
ReplyDelete