Patrick Kennedy back in drug rehab

[gauguin57]

Source: CNN.com

WASHINGTON (CNN) — U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy has checked himself into an unnamed medical facility for help with his recovery from substance abuse, the Rhode Island Democrat said in a statement Friday.

In May 2006, Kennedy, son of Sen. Edward Kennedy, was admitted to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, one day after he slammed his car into a security barricade on Capitol Hill.

Kennedy, 41, said at the time he had been suffering from addictions and depression since he was a young man.

“I have always said that recovery is a life-long process and that I will do whatever it takes to preserve my health,” Kennedy wrote in Friday’s release. “In consultation with my doctors, I have decided to temporarily step away from my normal routine to ensure that I am being as vigilant as possible in my recovery. I hope that in some small way my decision to be proactive and public in my efforts to remain healthy can help remove the stigma that has served as a barrier for many Americans reluctant to get the help they need.”


Read more: http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/

---

I hope this helps him. The genetic component we now know plays a big part in addiction is certainly clear in the Kennedy family. Of course, this will set off a flurry of mean Freeper comments all over the Web. *sigh*

[get the red out]

1. More power to him

There was a Republican Congressman that checked himself into drug/alcohol rehab recently as well, not that it would mean anything to the Freepers of the world.

I hope he gets the help he needs to continue his life and good work. It can be a very rough road, getting through addiction, but people do it. Relapse is not uncommon and hopefully people will be on his side rather than against him for having this particular life problem. Everyone has something wrong with them.

[imdjh]

3. One of the problems, as I see it, is the high tolerance and narrow definition of alcoholism

Particularly in Congress and the military, but at many levels of society. I have a former friend I had to finally cut off because it was clear, even as I was driving him to rehab for the fourth time, that he had no intention of living a clean life. He was still trying to figure out which drug he could abuse with the least consequences. At the core of his problem was that his family, which he regarded as quite upper class and sophisticated, had a collective definition of "social drinking" which I think at last half of Americans would consider alcoholic. In this country (and probably others), though, we do have this notion that if you get up at 7am and go to work, and if you aren't in jail for DUI then you aren't an alcoholic. The reason I mention Congress and the military is because both seem to have a high tolerance for high functioning alcoholics. Moreover, both Congress and the military seem to have alcohol consumption integrated into their corporate culture.

[get the red out]

4. Very good points!

I agree, we avoid having awareness of what constitutes problem drinking, especially in certain fields.

[WriteDown]

2. At this point...

He must get a discounted rate. :)

[MaineDem]

5. That's not funny. n/t

[MaineDem]

6. I wish him success. n/t

[CountAllVotes]

7. me too

he's been through hell. It is obvious how very upset he is about his "Uncle Ted" and the brain cancer.

I hope he gets well soon!

:dem:

[gauguin57]

9. For Patrick, "Uncle Ted" is "Dad."

He's Teddy's son.

Both Teddy and ex-wife Joan have had alcohol issues (Joan's have been extremely serious), as did Patrick's brother, Ted Jr. The brothers are obviously contending with the genetic propensity toward alcoholism.

Their sister, Kara, has had lung cancer; Ted Jr.'s leg was amputated because of cancer; Ted Sr. has had brain cancer, and Joan has had breast cancer.

The medical issues in that family are mind-boggling.

[CountAllVotes]

10. yes I know

he is just known to be "Uncle Ted" by a lot of people. You are quite correct, Patrick is Ted Kennedy's son.

[xxqqqzme]

13. Didn't Joan Kennedy battle depression as well?

I recall her writing about it at some point.

[LuckyLib]

8. Often the addiction goes beyond alcohol and includes prescription drugs.

The most heavily medicated country in the world has folks who struggle with drug addiction of the medical kind.

[ConcernedCanuk]

11. The most heavily medicated country in the world - yup - they give illegal drugs to their "warriors"

.
.
.

JET PILOTS are on a constant dose of uppers and downers, stuff you and I would be thrown in jail for using/distributing

and we wonder why "friendly fire" kills so many innocents in their homes, at wedding parties, or just being int the wrong place at the wrong time?

USA's MILITARY IS ON DRUGS!

Then they come home, get off the "high" and start killing their friends, their loved ones and themselves.

"War on Drugs"

hmmm

:freak:

[marshall]

15. It also extends to high risk behavior

It really takes over ones life.

[glinda]

12. Hazelton might be a good place for him for awhile.

[960]

14. Hope he gets the help he desperately needs, and resigns so someone who

is less of a constant distraction can have the seat.