Permanence

Eminem, Billie Joe Armstrong, Heath Ledger, Michael Jackson. Just a few celebrities and musicians that relied on drugs heavily. Two of them dead because of that reliance. Anthony Kiedis of The Red Hot Chili Peppers is no different. His love for drugs didn't exactly kill him, but it did eat away at the first half of his life. What did he find in drugs that he was willing to sacrifice so much for?

     Anthony was never very close to his mother. He had moved out of her little Michigan house to L.A. before he was ten. The reason for this drastic change in location was his pot smoking, half shirt wearing, long haired hippie of a father. Just like any other little boy his age, Anthony idolized his father no matter what, he didn't care that daddy had left his mother to raise him on her own. In his eyes none of that mattered now as long as they were together. And for a while they were. But that was before his dad's drug dealing became excessive and he was dubbed as "Spider." From that point on the only time Anthony ever received any attention from his beloved father, was when he was following in his footsteps. Doing drugs, partying hard, and even losing his virginity at age 14. That's how the life changing addiction began, as a way to get attention from his father. There was one thing Anthony could always count on though, and that was the white stray cat that lived in his yard. After a hard day at school, or an argument with a friend, Anthony would confide in this cat instead of his parent. It was after the cat disappeared that Anthony began doing drugs for more than just attention.

     Another aspect to think about is that Anthony never knew any better. He never had a mother, or even a healthy parental relationship to lead him in the right direction. The only adult guidance he ever received, taught him that drugs were indeed the answer to everything. It was his own father that taught him all the wrong lessons, and took him to experience those lessons firsthand. Instead of hanging out with friends on weekends like most kids his age, Anthony would be downtown in different clubs partying, getting drunk, and doing drugs. He never knew any better, and this way of life soon became a strong and almost unbreakable habit.

     Strangely enough, Anthony grew up to be in a successful band, "The Red Hot Chili Peppers." It's a miracle he came so far with such unhealthy habits and background. But he soon realized that he couldn't balance both drug addiction and a semi famous band all at once. Drugs not only burned a hole in his wallet, but they also made a negative impact on his health. Eventually he realized that although the drugs gave him an amazing high, he strived for permanence. After a life of instability, he probably wanted to rest easy knowing drugs weren't getting in the way of his income, friendships, and music, things that were permanent unlike highs. After wrestling with the idea a few months, one of his closest friends, and the bands guitarist, Hillel Slovak passed away. From a drug overdose. That was Anthony's turning point. He now realized he not only owed it to himself to become sober, but to Hillel as well.

     It's true when they say that drugs are an addictive substance, obviously they destroy multiple people's lives, because they are so addicted to these substances. Anthony was just as addicted and dependent as the next helpless addict, but he was addicted to other things too, things he craved more than he could ever need drugs. Stability in his life, and the music that made that possible for him.