News / Health & Wellness
Paltrow’s Portrayal of Addiction
Country Strong may not be a critical success, but Gwyneth Paltrow got it right when it came to showing a realistic struggle with substance abuse.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s latest film, Country Strong, may not have taken the box office by storm or wowed critics (it earned a C+ from Entertainment Weekly), but it gets high marks for its realistic portrayal of addiction. She even turned to former co-star Robert Downey Jr. for insight into the role.
As lead character Kelly Canter, Paltrow leaves residential treatment for her substance abuse issues. Her husband is insistent the big country star should get back on the road and convinces her she has a handle on her sobriety – even if the treatment professionals disagree.
Rushed back into the spotlight without a proper support team in place, the results are predictably disastrous, but it’s still educational to watch her descent into relapse unfold. In the film, Paltrow’s character is trying to forget painful events from the not-so-distant past and uses pills, alcohol and romantic attention from a cute singer-songwriter to help her forget. As anyone familiar with addiction knows, these distractions can’t relieve the pain for the long term.
Getting Help for Addiction
The steps for a successful recovery aren’t some big mystery. Seeking treatment, being willing to submit to a program and not rushing through the process will help when it comes to long-term sobriety. While Country Strong’s fictional star meets a tragic end, it doesn’t need to come to that for you or your loved ones.Alcohol Addiction
If you or someone you love is need of alcohol treatment, call The Canyon at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.
