Last week, I ran across a news piece from the Guardian featuring Russell Brand, British comedian and Hollywood star, as he put in his two bits about the Twelve Steps.
For those who don’t know, Russell Brand is a British comedian and Hollywood star with a very colorful character and even more unusual story. (For cultural reference, he’s also the ex-husband of Katy Perry, and the voice of Dr. Nefario in Despicable Me.)
And he is a recovering addict. As a matter of fact, the Guardian mentions how his past life of addiction has provided the material for many of his anecdotes. Even more, he’s also made a documentary about addiction, debated the war on drugs with Peter Hitchens, and campaigned for abstinence-based treatment—through comic relief.
True story.
Brand holds a distinct view on the solution for addiction—and that’s abstinence-based treatment. He is a passionate supporter of the Twelve Step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.
In a world that seems to condemn Twelve Step Programs such as A.A., Russell Brand’s words can be quite encouraging. We may not agree with everything he says, but he nails it right on sometimes.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
- “Addiction is a disease. . . that should be treated with compassion.”
- “I think what addiction is, for me, is it’s a behaviour that’s indulged continually, despite detrimental consequences.”
- “The idea that we live our lives in the past, the present and the future is illusory. We only live moment to moment. But we forget that.”
And in one of the most hilarious moments of 2012, Brand also spoke to the Parliamentary Committee today. If you have time for a laugh, watch this video:
Or if you only have a few minutes , watch the 2 minute version.
Thanks, Russell, for helping others understand us!