We need to be better FRIENDS to those suffering from a drug addiction. By Addam M. Francisco

By Addam M. Francisco

A couple of weeks ago, the hip-hop community and, better yet, an entire society lost a legend in DMX. He was a pillar in the industry and was responsible for making so many hardcore hip-hop fans today.

That didn't come without a lot of controversies, though. DMX spent plenty of time in jail, approximately 30 times that have been recorded, stretching from the late 1980s to 2019, for various offenses. Drug use has been a problem, and in 2019, he canceled a tour to address his addiction, citing that he's 'putting his family and sobriety first.'

As you should know by now, DMX died two years later (three weeks ago) after suffering a heart attack stemming from an overdose. He suffered for a week in the hospital and for a few days on life support.

When thinking about not only DMX's death but his journey through crime and drug abuse, how many of our friends or acquaintances reflect this same type of behavior? How many of them are we holding accountable or playing an active, influential role in trying to change their life's course? Are we just laughing, saying, "Man/girl, you're crazy! Always doing some sh*t," and moving on with our everyday activities? Are we reprimanding our friends for constantly getting in trouble with the law, or are we blaming the legal system while posting "Free (insert here)" on social media?

I'm going to let you think about that answer, but I know the truth, and it's something we need to work on. This topic is a double-edged sword because modern-day pop culture and, frankly, the hip-hop industry glorifies the lifestyle DMX lived, especially when it comes to drug abuse. It's all fun and games when talking, rapping, and doing the crimes until your best friend gets locked up for 15 years because of it. And even worse, it's all fun and games when you're laughing at your friend being 'slumped' off whatever their drug of choice is on the weekends until that turns into everyday use, which often turns into addiction and overdoses.

We allow toxic behavior from our friends to avoid offending them or causing friction within our friendships. Still, in the meantime, our friends don't have anyone honest enough to save their lives potentially, and if not that, at least improving their quality of life.

So, the question is yours to answer. Do you genuinely care about your friends' quality of life? Or are they just someone you hang out with from time to time? If it's the latter, you need to reevaluate your definition of friendship.

Rest In Peace DMX

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