#PhillipSeymourHoffman died because he was an addict, and he fell into his addiction. He did not die because he was a vulnerable artist and he was not an addict because he was an artist and most importantly he was not an artist because he was an addict. I believe deeply that it is a profound mistake to connect his artistry to his addiction in any way. I believe that there are already too many artists telling themselves that if they get clean and sober, their art will suffer.

He was an exquisite artist. And for most of the theatre and film work we know and admire him for, he was sober in AA. He was clean and sober for a good long time. And his artistry didn't suffer for it. His artistry was enhanced for it, as was his life.

I weep for the loss of this artist and this fellow alcoholic/addict. I wish he had stayed sober. For his children, for his family and friends, for all of us whose lives were enriched by his artistry, I wish he had stayed sober.

And I want the people reading this who are still suffering with untreated alcoholism and addiction to know that there is help and that help is free and that life is better sober. Life still happens sober, shit still happens sober, but the suffering stops. The self loathing stops. The powerful, overwhelming all consuming need to put a needle in your arm or a drink down your throat stops. Phil went out on prescription drugs and the addiction was triggered and he couldn't find his way back and that guts me. But you can stop. You can find your way in or your way back. You can because you're still alive. I hope you do. www.aa.org

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