tions, brain, heart and other organs. Some drugs do more mental damage and some harm the organs faster than others. Most leave lasting effects. Combine age with dam- age and poor diet and you’re seriously “flirtin’ with disaster!” That’s pretty straightforward. The reasons for drug abuse and poor atten- tion to diet and health are varied and compli- cated. Without addressing these issues, a person is unlikely to change bad habits and heal.
Now, don’t get me wrong! I am not one
of those “just say no” folks. I am a child of the 70s, raised by beatnik/hippie parents who “experimented” in the 60s. I went to high school in Gainesville, FL in the early-mid 80s. Ever heard of Gainesville Green? It’s famous. I’m not a prude. I’m part rock-n-roll party and part hippie healthy. “Mary Jane” has never been proven to be dangerous, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about hard-core street drugs and toxic, legal painkillers that killed 64,000 Americans in 2016 and more each year! “Legalized” mur- der! If you haven’t touched that poison, DON’T START. If you have, STOP!!! As we age, we need to play serious
catch-up. A nutritious diet, exercise and emo- tional health are paramount to living the rest of our days in a happier, healthier way. Sorry, but there is no magic pill. Most pills do more damage and just cover up symptoms, not solve the root problem. We cannot go back, but we can start to heal mentally and physi- cally today! The body is made to heal. When we cut ourselves, the wound heals. Our in- sides also heal. It’s not easy and it takes time, but recovery and healing do happen! The reasons we escape life or neglect
health are often deep-seated. Sometimes, there has been neglect and/or abuse in our formative years. Sometimes, we’re just busy and focused on other things. Often, it’s being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or the right place at the right time, according to some. Temptations are constant. Reasons and
opportunities to escape or enhance our lives are everywhere. Back in the day, I heard mu- sicians say they played better when they were “on” something. We listeners might not al- ways agree. What I want to remind everyone, including myself, is that as intolerable as life can be, and as fun as escape might seem, self medicating comes with an expensive price tag! Our troubles don’t disappear, our health suffers more, and our problems become com- pounded with illness and, tragically even death. Not exactly glamorous. Only we can decide to make that change. I’ve dated my fair share of musicians.
Although their traumas and escapes of choice were different, they all seemed to have them. Fans sometimes forget that musicians are just people, with lots of pressures. They’re artists with sensitive souls. While battling demons can make for meaningful and exceptional music, it can also be unbearable. Chris Cor- nell’s voice bared his soul. His lyrics sealed the deal. But all that came from a very dark place. He couldn’t sustain his sobriety, and sadly, he paid the ultimate price. Back in the day, even someone as
seemingly “wholesome” as Glen Campbell overdid it. I am sometimes surprised by the people who didn’t fit the “image,” but were actual addicts. Alzheimer’s and dementia are not well understood at this time, but what we do know is that both are deteriorations of the brain. This can be brought on by multiple fac- tors including sugar, toxic chemicals/heavy metals, poor nutrition, genetic factors, and, quite likely, drug abuse. Such a tragic way to go.
Gregg Allman believed his Hepatitis C
resulted from a tattoo. Considering his addic- tion to heroin, it isn’t hard to imagine a dirty needle as the culprit. There is no way to know for sure. That kind of damage takes a huge toll on the body and could easily cause the immune system to fail. The liver cleans the blood. Without that filtration, disease is in- evitable. Gregg got clean long ago, but the
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