Addictions

[Dallas]

Just wondering how everyone battles addictions on their serial, whether it be alcohol, drugs, sex or anything.

Discuss!

[livelikemusic]

Well quite a few characters on my serial are addicted to drugs, one being Cassandra, who is currently in a coma after having birth, etc. Her drug addiction is going to alter how I write her for the rest of the season.

Another character, Theo, is an addict but that hasn't been really discussed yet.

[kellyzollo]

I treat it pretty realistically. I've had many family members who have struggled with both alcoholic and drug abuse.

On WL with Liz in particular she had her addiction that she hid from everyone but Kate who chose not to say anything about her drug use. When she overdosed, she then admitted herself to rehab. From there and this season she really reflects on her choices and then tries to move forward with her life, while avoiding her past addiction.

Some may consider that a little too public service announcement I guess, but I would rather tell the story right than not tell it at all. People abuse drugs, people hide their addiction and lie about it. An intervention of sorts is held and then that person either choses to get help or they don't. I would rather showcase the proper road to recovery and the steps it takes than to sweep it all under the rug, or worse turn it into a plot point.

Kelly

[Dallas]

Wonderfully said Kelly. I must say, as well, you handled Liz's drug problem very nicely on WL. it was super realistic, and nice to see.

[Jay]

As one with an addictive personality, I've tried incorporating my various struggles with characters on the series. My biggest one would be Val Preston who obviously has a sex addiction, and perhaps a drug addiction as well (Which shall be explored). I plan on really exploring the roots to her addictions in the diary aspect of the series this season on PH.

[Keelime]

I haven't really explored that yet. I have been trained a little in a dealing with these issues and I know that it's a long process. It's something that takes years to control but people never fully get over it.

[bexeth]

To be honest, I almost wish I hadn't introduced the aspect of addiction into my story, though it fits in perfectly. It's just kind of cumbersome, because you want to portray it as realistically as possible, and a person that's got an addiction isn't obviously themselves. It is very important to keep in mind that with addicts, there are two of them. The real person and the person that has been born through the addiction. I try to focus on the dueling nature of addiction, but sometimes, it's difficult.

[Pat]

I treat it pretty realistically. I've had many family members who have struggled with both alcoholic and drug abuse.

On WL with Liz in particular she had her addiction that she hid from everyone but Kate who chose not to say anything about her drug use. When she overdosed, she then admitted herself to rehab. From there and this season she really reflects on her choices and then tries to move forward with her life, while avoiding her past addiction.

Some may consider that a little too public service announcement I guess, but I would rather tell the story right than not tell it at all. People abuse drugs, people hide their addiction and lie about it. An intervention of sorts is held and then that person either choses to get help or they don't. I would rather showcase the proper road to recovery and the steps it takes than to sweep it all under the rug, or worse turn it into a plot point.

Kelly

I really enjoyed Liz's problem. It was well-written. I hope you continue to make it realistic and have her back in a situation where she could fall off the wagon, as addicts rarely stay clean after their first trip to rehab/detox.