7 Reasons To Seek Addiction Treatment
Substance use disorder, which is more colloquially known as drug addiction, is a serious mental...
toll free: 844.955.3042
local tel: 561.464.6505
fax: 561.450.6637
[email protected]
RECO Intensive
140 NE 4th Avenue
Delray Beach, FL 33483
Substance use disorder, which is more colloquially known as drug addiction, is a serious mental...
"I have to say that I am so grateful to RECO for giving me back my life. There are no words to express to deepest integrity this program has to its clients. I truly believe in my heart of hearts that I would not be here today if it wasn’t for the therapist, staff, techs and administrators that have touched my life. I live today because RECO believes." -Kellie R.
RECO Intensive
140 NE 4th Avenue
Delray Beach, FL 33483
561.464.6505
toll-free: 844.955.3042
email: [email protected]
toll free: 844.955.3042
local tel: 561.464.6505
fax: 561.450.6637
[email protected]
RECO Intensive
140 NE 4th Avenue
Delray Beach, FL 33483
Country singer Melissa Etheridge is speaking out about her son Beckett in one of her first interviews following his death. Twenty-one-year-old Beckett passed away in May 2020 as a result of an opioid overdose, after struggling with addiction since the age of 17.
In a new interview with People magazine, Etheridge was extremely candid about the details of Beckett’s addiction, and the helplessness she felt in trying to help him overcome his struggles. Etheridge told the publication that Beckett’s battles began after he broke his ankle while training to be a professional snowboarder. The injury set him back in his sport—and eventually led to a dependence on painkillers.
Beckett’s dependence on opioids progressed to heroin and fentanyl use over the course of several years. Etheridge reflected on how the drug use affected the son she once knew as a different child, stating, “The drug abuse really turned him into someone I didn’t know. He was quicker to anger or mistrust. He stole money from me. The last couple of weeks, he was paranoid, and all of a sudden he was involved with guns. It’s sad because it’s not who he was before that.”
Etheridge’s experience in watching Beckett’s struggle is familiar to millions of families in the United States, where the addiction crisis has continued to surge. Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, overdoses have continued to skyrocket, particularly as struggling addicts face intense periods of isolation, depression, and anxiety.
When news of Beckett’s passing broke, his family issued statements that stated he had passed as a result of opioid addiction, and in the months that followed, reports emerged that Beckett had been on a two-month “bender” immediately prior to his passing.
The son of Etheridge and her former wife, Julie Cypher, Beckett also had a sister, Bailey, and twin half-siblings. After many years of speculation, it was revealed that musician David Crosby was the sperm donor for Etheridge and Cypher’s two children.
As Etheridge mourned the loss of her son, she performed songs on her Facebook page to connect with others, as many were isolated at home due to the pandemic. In one of these performances, which aired on the Rachael Ray Show, Etheridge performed a cover of the Coldplay song “Fix You” alongside her daughter Bailey. The show posted that the performance would be dedicated in honor of Beckett.
As the family struggles with their loss, Etheridge has taken time to reflect on the experience of trying to help Beckett throughout his addiction.
Etheridge spoke for many parents when she told People, “When you have a loved one who is battling opioid addiction, it’s horrific. You don’t know what to do. You want to help them, but ultimately they have to help themselves. It’s a journey for anyone around the loved one. You realize the only way to help them is to take care of yourself. You can’t do anything for them; you can’t make them be sober.”
As many families who have lost children to addiction can attest, finding community can provide solace. Etheridge, who has been open about her life experiences throughout her career, has now taken the opportunity to share her son’s story to help others. In Beckett’s memory, Etheridge also recently founded the Etheridge Foundation, which will support research on opioid addiction.
Although she is fighting a private battle with grief, Etheridge knew she needed to share her story as a mother who had lost her son to this insidious disease.
“When opioid addiction took my son, I wasn’t going to hide that. It feels better to be open about it, to be truthful about it. We’re here to be an example,” she said.
December 29, 2022 addiction
mental healthIt can be difficult to know what to do if you think someone you know is using drugs. This guide will help you identify some...read more
December 22, 2022 addiction
substance abuseDrug addiction is a serious problem that can have a devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities. It is a chronic condition that can lead...read more
December 15, 2022 addiction
alcoholismDrug rehab can be a very effective way to help people recover from addiction. It can give them the tools and support they need to...read more
August 31, 2022 addiction
Using Aetna Insurance To Pay For Addiction Treatment At Reco Intensive One of the many questions that people with drug or alcohol addiction face when...read more
Discover a better life and call our recovery helpline today.