A mass murderer, some accidental (alleged) arsonists and several actors
Runners-up for top story of the month:
Robert Hawkins, 19, who shot and killed eight people including himself at Westroads Mall in Nebraska on December 5. As usual, everything except his obvious drug addiction was blamed–which serves as an excuse to authorities for not having appropriately intervened. Diagnoses from various mental health professionals included schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder. Yet Hawkins had a history of alcohol and other-drug violations, including being a minor in possession of or dispensing alcohol and being a minor in possession of an open alcoholic container. He was charged with intent to deliver a controlled substance and found guilty of disorderly conduct (which almost always involves heavy use of alcohol or other drugs). He managed to get kicked out of a drug treatment program after asking the counselor the classic alcoholic question, “Who are you to judge me?” and telling a state caseworker in typical alcoholic style that he was sick of “all this court stuff.”
Clue # 6 in the chapter “Apparent Mental Confusion” in How to Spot Hidden Alcoholics, “appears to have a Personality Disorder or mental illness,” shows that because alcoholism can mimic virtually any of the Disorders and mental illnesses, addiction to psychotropic drugs is usually the underlying cause of such problems. One of the most pervasive myths, “Personality Disorders are more common than alcoholism” (# 64 in Alcoholism Myths and Realities), is perhaps the most destructive, because the mental health establishment often treats only symptoms while giving false hope to friends and family.
In a more addiction-aware society, reports might read something like: “Robert Hawkins, age 19, inherited alcoholism from his untreated mother, Maribel Rodriguez. Rodriguez lost custody after a court affidavit filed by his father, a sergeant in the Air Force, alleged that she smoked marijuana and drank excessively, affecting her ability to parent. She was at times so deep into her addiction that her second husband, another Air Force sergeant, got custody of their two children after Rodriquez missed a hearing in which it was alleged she used dope, coke and other drugs in front of the children. Hawkins’ alcoholism took form in what appeared to be numerous personality disorders, for which medical authorities tried ‘talk therapy’ and psychiatric medications. Appropriate treatment would have included an enforceable requirement to abstain from the use of alcohol and other drugs. Because this was not done, seven innocent people were murdered at a mall prior to Hawkins’ suicide. Hawkins and his victims became yet another tragic example of the consequences of misdiagnosing alcoholism as personality disorders and allowing alcohol and other-drug addiction to progress unimpeded.”
Five suspects, ages 18 to 27, arrested for having an illegal middle-of-the-night campfire near a cave in Malibu, California, when a blaze broke out. Detectives were able to trace alcohol containers and food wrappers to the men, who purchased the items at local markets using debit cards. Though authorities do not believe they intentionally set the inferno, which charred 4,900 acres, destroyed 53 Malibu homes and injured six firefighters, they said the suspects acted recklessly by lighting a campfire while Santa Ana winds howled through the area. The men are charged with taking off without extinguishing a campfire they knew had gotten out of control and failing to report the fire to authorities. Who’d ever have thought that these young men were “partying”?
Actor David Hasselhoff, 55. What else can be said other than what has been said in the November 2006 and June 2007 issues (including, among other tidbits, a story on his publicist, Judy Katz, lying for him)? He’s an obvious drunk and is, therefore, less dangerous than a hidden one. However, near as I can tell he hasn’t been ordered by a court to abstain from drinking or using under promise of incarceration and is, therefore, easily capable of getting behind the wheel of a car and terrorizing the rest of us. By the way, given his age there were likely hundreds of incidents for which close people or the law could have intervened before his latest visits to rehab–four times in the last two months. Oh, and there was a visit to the emergency room where his BAL reportedly tested at .5 per cent, a level that can snuff out a life. Oh, and actress Pamela Bach, who enabled Hasselhoff for 16 years as his wife, has rights to visit their children, for whom he has legal custody. How many times could she have intervened, but didn’t–or were her own perceptions too distorted?
Pop singer Britney Spears, 26. What else can be said other than what has been in the January 2006, August 2007 and September 2007 issues (including, among other choice dirt, a story on OK! Magazine picking up a $21,000 tab for goods “lost” and damaged by Spears at a photo shoot)? She’s an obvious drunk and is, therefore, less dangerous than a hidden one. However, near as I can tell she hasn’t been ordered by a court to abstain from drinking….oops! I just said all this. Are we getting the picture? Hello? Oh, except her age and one court-mandated intervention. Still, there have been by now hundreds of other incidents for which such intervention would have been appropriate (no, she didn’t get caught that many times, but we can imagine). The most interesting thing about Britney is she likely experienced late-onset alcoholism, which makes one wonder how much good delaying its onset really does. Talk about a brain-damaged individual.
Actor and star of “24” Kiefer Sutherland, 41, spending 48 days in the Glendale, California city jail washing the bedding and cooking food for fellow inmates. The fact that he finally got more time than some other stars’ 48 minutes may help him realize he cannot safely drink. He sounds contrite, which is an essential prerequisite for staying sober. Fans of “24,” of which I am one, are rooting for you, Kiefer.