Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has been making headlines around the world in recent days. He is under fire for allegations that he smoked crack cocaine last year, but Mayor Ford says he did nothing wrong and refuses to give up his position as mayor.
Mayor Ford has been videotaped causing scenes in city meetings, disrespecting council members, and displaying crazy antics. The mayor is currently in a battle to retain his position, as Toronto city officials work to rein the leader in.
The accusations that Mayor Ford abused crack cocaine seem to be the basis for Toronto’s current drama. Ford denied for months that he used crack, despite the fact that his accusers claimed they had video of it. When Ford finally admitted to smoking crack cocaine, he said he would have admitted it sooner if someone would have asked him the right questions about it. Now Mayor Ford faces a drug investigation and the distrust of his constituents.
Accepting Help for an Addiction
No one probably wants to be in Mayor Ford’s shoes right now, but anyone who has been struggling with drug abuse can learn something from this remarkable story. The lesson is that it is always difficult to come forward and to admit to doing something wrong, especially when it involves drugs. Someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol will mostly likely deny they have a problem when friends or family confront them. We all want to cover up our issues because that is easier than dealing with them.
Whether or not Mayor Ford has an addiction to crack or alcohol, and whether he should be stripped of his office will be determined in the upcoming months. Ford has maintained that even though he did smoke crack last year when “in a drunken stupor”, he is not addicted to the substance.
It is important for anyone who is covering up an addiction to admit they have a problem, and accept help for it. There are many effective treatment programs that can help individuals overcome a drug or alcohol addiction and get back to their life.
