The thief has struck again, taking from the world a talented actor and treasured father. Another victim of addiction has been stolen from us, and it is not, this time, because there aren’t enough rehab beds, outpatient programs or awareness programs, or enough cops to put criminals behind bars.
It’s just because that’s what addiction often does.
Philip Seymour Hoffman died Sunday in a Manhattan apartment, found with a needle sticking out of his arm and empty and full packets of heroin by his side, according to police sources. Sober for 23 years, Hoffman had relapsed on pain pills, then heroin last year, and spent 10 days in rehab.
Hoffman joins a long line of beloved artists killed by drugs: He also joins a far longer line of equally beloved but anonymous children and parents and siblings and friends whose lives were cut short. Practically nobody these days lives a life untouched by addiction.
Hoffman was a marvelously talented actor who moved audiences onstage in Death of a Salesman as easily as he did on film.
In the wake of Hoffman’s death, we’ll hear a lot about what needs to be done to fight the scourge of addiction, and that deserves attention and action. But it’s also wise to come to terms with just how powerful addiction is: Hoffman, beloved and rich, had access to every rehab program, treatment and service known to man. He lies dead, anyway, at the age of 46.
Editorial, Pages 16 on 02/05/2014