Demi Lovato Shamed For Relapsing
On Tuesday, Demi Lovato was hospitalized following a overdose at around 11:30 a.m. TMZ obtained an audio of Lovato’s assistant frantically calling for help. The assistant is heard asking the male dispatcher to turn off the sirens, but he refuses, stating that it’s a “medical emergency” and the sirens are necessary in order to reach “as fast as possible.”
The singer was reportedly unconscious when EMS arrived and was revived with Narcan, a medication with the intention of reversing the effects of an overdose by restoring normal breathing. Fortunately, the pop star was confirmed to be stable hours after the incident, and her family has asked for privacy during her recovery.
Last month, the former Disney star confirmed she had relapsed in a heart-rending ballad called “Sober.” Lovato described a detailed account of her unfortunate setback involving alcohol and her struggle with sobriety, a pact that she had honored for six years this March. Two days prior to her overdose she forgot the words to “Sober” at her concert in California, telling the audience, “F***, I can’t remember the lyrics.”
When news of her overdose began to circulate, many of Lovato’s longtime friends such as, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Victoria Justice, and Nick Jonas, as well her dedicated fans formed a support system to celebrate her strength and resilience during this difficult time.
One fan (@BgirlShorty) tweeted, “Sending endless amounts of love, light and healing energy to @ddlovato #yougotthisgirl.”
However, following the incident the pop star also unfortunately received an onslaught of negative comments. Some were criticizing her for falling off the wagon, but many were mocking her relapse and sharing insensitive jokes about the occurrence. Well-known “Youtuber” PewDiePie posted a meme online ridiculing Lovato’s overdose, showing her begging for money to buy a burger, but secretly spending it on drugs.
Fans quickly came to her defense, one in particular (@RachelL02799382) writing, “it sucks so much seeing all the negativity surrounding Demi Lovato. the reason we love her so much is that she really wanted to change and she was open about her struggles. yes she relapsed but nobody is perfect.”
It’s important to note that this relapse does not dismiss Lovato’s six year sobriety pact. She’s worked hard towards recovery in the past, and there’s no doubt that she’ll continue to heal and rest her body these next few weeks. Show Demi some empathy. It’s difficult to understand what she must be going through at a time like this. All we can do is send love and support her way.
Lovato defined a dialogue that undermined the stigma towards mental health when I was younger. Given the circumstances, her vulnerability was exploited by the media and the public, but she persisted. Her relapse is not a defeat of her integrity, rather a measure of her journey towards recovery. The message behind her music and her efforts to end the normalization of eating disorders and substance abuse has changed the tone of our society’s perception of addiction.
Substance abuse and drug addiction needs to be addressed as a mental illness, instead of being shrugged off as a phase. Stop dismissing drug overdose as a character flaw because it frames a self induced narrative. We cannot continue to perpetuate the idea that addiction is a choice rather than a disease. Drug use can be the result of severe mental disorders, causing an individual to lose the ability to critically consider an outcome. It’s time we start recognizing it for what it is: an illness rooted in dependency and compulsion.
National Drug & Alcohol Treatment Referral Service tollfree & confidential number -> 1–800–662–4357
