Chaz Bono Documentary Addresses Drug Addiction
Chaz Bono is well-known in both the mainstream media and GLBTQ circles as Sonny and Cher’s transgendered child. Much has been splashed across tabloids about Chaz’s transition and Cher’s reaction, and now, Chaz is speaking up through a documentary designed to dispel myths and help those who may be considering a transition of their own.
The documentary is called Becoming Chaz, and Chaz premiered the film at Sundance this year. The movie chronicles not only Chaz’s transition from female to male but discusses his recovery from drug addiction.
Drug addiction is not uncommon among transgendered individuals, both female-to-male and male-to-female. Especially among transgendered youth, the fears of how their families, kids at school and others in their community will react to the transition can drive many to seek escape in drugs and alcohol.
When Chaz discussed his documentary and plans for a sequel, he said: “I wanted to do this because I wanted to help people. And I knew that…I could put a face on this issue that people just don’t understand because it’s a hard one to understand. I wanted to be able to change people’s hearts and minds on this.”
Gender Identification, Transition and Drug Addiction
Feeling as if you are living your life in the wrong body and unable to reconcile what you see in the mirror with how you identify yourself is almost inexplicable to anyone who doesn’t experience it. Trying to help friends and family understand what is happening leads to feelings of isolation, confusion, guilt, depression and fear – all of which can ultimately lead to drug abuse and addiction for teens and adults, no matter what the cause.
Fighting Drug Addiction in the Transgender Community
Just like any other situation that leads to drug addiction, early identification is key. Discerning the difference between recreational abuse and an addiction that requires drug and alcohol addiction treatment can be difficult when it’s your life or the life of someone you are close to, but it’s essential to getting the necessary help. Enrolling in treatment sooner rather than later can have a big impact on the outcome of that treatment. The earlier you get the help you need, the more effective the treatment and the longer most will be able to sustain abstinence in recovery.
Find Help for Drug Addiction
If you or someone you love is living with drug and/ or alcohol addiction, help is only a phone call away. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you come back from addiction and create a life for yourself in recovery.