The Energon Pub

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Greg Giraldo's death highlights prescription abuse problem

I had a special connection to comedian Greg Giraldo, who died Wednesday from unspecified complications after apparently accidentally overdosing on prescription drugs.

Giraldo, 44, was one of the handful of celebrities I've spotted when visiting New York City. I'll always remember the little frisson I felt when I walked past him on a sidewalk in Times Square.

That's a tenuous connection at best. But it still makes me feel even worse than I otherwise might about the loss of him and his talent to such an insidious cause.

The abuse of prescription drugs has been on the rise in the U.S. for the past few years, particularly among teenagers. It's a particularly troubling problem in which we parents might be taking part, unwittingly, in making these often-addictive drugs available to our kids.

what a shame. he was funny too

Too bad, he was actually improving and becoming a good comedian.

He was funny on pretty much anything I saw him on. The Comedy Central Roasts, Lewis Black's Root of All Evil, Tough Crowd (which was hilarious!) and his own stand-ups.

Having said that, I don't feel bad one bit. He died because he couldn't control his drug abuse and endangered his own life, with the worst consequences. Too bad it's not a lesson he can simply learn from. But others can and should.

Dang, I enjoyed his style too. Don't wanna say that he deserved it because no one deserves to pass away prematurely, but he didn't do much to prevent it coming...

I've got all his albums. Very funny man. I'm sad that he's gone.

Rodimus, people with addictions often are out of control of their habits. It's part of the disease. Until you've dealt with it yourself, you have no idea what you're talking about. And with prescription drugs, which was Giraldo's downfall, people often get hooked on them without even meaning to, all because of an all-too-helpful doctor.

G1Sizzle wrote:Rodimus, people with addictions often are out of control of their habits. It's part of the disease. Until you've dealt with it yourself, you have no idea what you're talking about.

I have dealt with it, and I do know what I am talking about. I consider myself very lucky and very strong for having beaten my addiction on my own. No doctor, no support group, nothing. Alcoholism is different than actual pill abuse, but the principle is the same: I craved something that was destroying me in the process of making me feel good. The good effects get shorter and shorter while the damage grows and takes a bigger toll every day. And when I've spent half my paycheck on booze before I even got paid, I wondered why I had a job in the first place, when I couldn't remember most of my day I was so messed up. And one day, I looked in the mirror real hard and what I saw was definitely not encouraging. I was a 25-year-old alcoholic college drop-out with a dead-end job, no family and no future. I lived in an overpriced shithole apartment on the bad side of town and I was staring at the bottom of a deep, dark hole. Unfortunately I can't remember the exact day, but I vowed to myself I would never be in that shape again, and here I am over 3 years later, and in a much better shape. I do have a drink once in a while when an occasion calls for it, but I have what so many others in my position don't: self-control. I know damn well it isn't easy. It didn't work for me the first time I tried. But the point is, I knew there was something wrong, and I kept trying. Alcoholism took 3 of my 4 grandparents, as well as my father and some other relatives. I made myself determined to not go down that road. So yes, I have dealt with it and I do know what I am talking about.

If you still have a drink once in a while and it doesn't affect you, you are NOT an alcoholic.

G1Sizzle wrote:If you still have a drink once in a while and it doesn't affect you, you are NOT an alcoholic.

Oh, it affects me. I keep wanting more. But as I said, self-control. But you're right, I am NOT an alcoholic. Not anymore. I don't even know if I was, all I know is I had a serious drinking problem and I took care of it. Point is, I had the strength to recognize I had a self-destructive behavior and I corrected it. Something Giraldo and a lot of other people fail to do, and it costs them everything.