Day 107 - Peaches and Heroin: The Ignorance...

I've been rather busy today so I missed the inevitable moral debates on social media about the news that Peaches Geldof died from a Heroin Overdose.


According to toxicology reports she was found dead from a heroin overdose, in the care of her 11 month year old son at home. Her husband couldn't reach her on the phone so sent a friend round to check. The friend found her dead. A sad tale indeed.


Whilst social media has been a game changer and does many good things. It always creates a rather odd torrent of opinion and moral debate around news like this.


It ranges from the gushing tragedy updates, 'RIP xxxxxx', to the rants about the haters, 'Don't people realise she was ill and leave her alone', to the downright ignorant judgmental simpletons, 'how could she do such a thing! What a selfish xxxx'.


They are people's opinions and they have a right to express them of course, but it never really gets to the truth. Nobody really knows the truth yet we are pretty quick to form an opinion based on sketchy facts. (me included)


This shit happens all the time. Every day people die from overdoses, drugs, alcohol, addiction, mental illness. Of course people die from other illnesses too. But there is something that stirs the moral indignation in people when someone dies from a seemingly self inflicted over use of drugs or alcohol. Most people don't and cant get it, because they would never do such a thing. Therefore we judge others on our own behaviour.


If you're not addicted to something then how can you understand why someone is? All you see is someone using a substance even though it is clearly not good for them, not doing them any favours and killing them and their family. There is usually little empathy but a lot of anger. Most people see it as a selfish choice. it is selfish but that is addiction. It will consume everything in it's path.


The people expressing anger and condemning her clearly have their own issues. Plus of course the usual moral outrage of how someone can use drugs whilst in the care of their children. How could they!!!!


Well, sorry to say it guys but here it goes anyway. When you're addicted to drugs or alcohol NOTHING comes in the way of what your body craves. It is bigger then any human will power. No matter how much you may hate yourself, tell yourself not to do it. King alcohol or drugs will always win. That is why addiction is an illness not a choice. If it was a sane logical social decision to get a little out of it then you would never do it. When the choice is gone and you are in addiction, the addiction makes the choice for you.


Who knows if she was an addict. We shall never know. But what I do know is that nobody really dies of a heroin overdose by mistake. Nobody means to OD, that is a mistake but it's the reason why the person gets to that place. That is addiction. There is usually something bigger at work.


Another point debated was the utter fallacy of her public  v private persona. She was a columnist for a baby magazine and had 'reinvented' herself as a mother and family girl. Endless pictures on Instagram about the perfect young mother's life. The usual drivel was spoken about this at her death. 'Devoted to her children', 'was such a wonderful mother' etc etc. Maybe she was. Just because what happened doesn't make her a bad mother. She was a human being suffering. The world clearly judges her by her actions not intentions.


But people condemning her for her public persona and making money out of that should stop and think. They are the real morons in this. Does anyone really buy a public image these days? The media and modern consumer culture means that people's entire careers or livelihoods are based on playing the image game. Particularly 'celebrities'.


We can't complain about image and celebrity culture on one hand and then buy Grazia, Hello or surf websites on the other. We are the consumers. Consuming Facebook, Instagram, rolling news channels, social media, TV.


If you want any bigger examples,  look at The Max Clifford case this week. The endless horrific sexual abuse cases over the past 20 years with Cyril Smith, widespread abuse at St Pauls Private school. Teachers, politicians, judges., doctors. Supposed pillars of society all sick as fuck and privately insane. Do we really believe public personas? Are we that simple ladies and gentlemen?


Most of the public eye live a lie. Most things are image led. So if people are condemning her for promoting herself as a wholesome mother and creating a persona whilst using drugs privately they are missing the point.


She was just part of the game. No different from a politician found lying, a celebrity found cheating. Probably from me and you too. What persona do you portray at work or in public? Is that what you are like at home? That's the real question to be asked here.


Do you promote a real life on Facebook or Twitter? Do you discuss your fears, worries, problems, difficulties with life? I bet you don't do you. So why is that any different to Peaches doing her thing? In my opinion it isn't. Shes yet another victim of King Addiction.


Another family traumatised. Children growing up with no mother. The juggernaut of addiction claims another generation. The ripple effect is huge. It continues and will stop at nothing.


That's why people don't understand. Because they cant. Its not there fault and that is why I continue to write this blog. To speak publicly about this disease. To humanise it. Bring it to life. Educate and why the people who are angry at her and morally condemn are missing the point so much I almost feel a good snort of H would do them the power of good.




Together We Are Stronger


Nicholas Evans