Rihanna Talks About Father’s Drug Abuse
Rihanna recently did an interview in which she discussed the issues that plagued her childhood, among other things. Growing up with a father who was allegedly a crack addict gave her a fair share of emotional baggage, but she works hard to keep an eye on the positive and remain focused on that as much as possible.
Parents with drug and alcohol addiction issues have a profound effect on their children: either for the positive or for the negative. Some develop their own drug addiction issues as a result, while others go to the opposite extreme, working hard to make sure that they never repeat the mistakes of their parents.
Parental Influence in the Face of Drug Addiction Issues
Rihanna says:“I have a lot of great memories, actually. Somehow, the negativity holds a very small space in my mind and memory. I usually just think about the great things, like the beach [in Barbados where she grew up], learning how to swim and write, and catching fish. And most of those things I did with my father. So I seem to just focus on that.”
Her mother affected her deeply as well, and it’s these memories that also serve to motivate Rihanna in her adult life: “My mother’s definitely had the most influence on me as a woman throughout my life. She raised me in a way that I could be responsible and fearless. She taught me a lot of things about life. She’s made me realize that it comes with consequences.”
Focusing on Hope for the Future Rather than Negativity from the Past
Rihanna works hard to stay focused on her own goals for herself rather than any negative issues that resulted from her childhood.
She says: “I never focus on who or what is at the top, because when people become better at what they do individually, it’s noticed. And that’s all I want to be: an artist who was known for growing constantly and becoming bigger and better. It’s not about who’s better between Rihanna, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. I’m more in competition with myself. I always challenge myself to do better next time. It doesn’t matter who’s at the top as long as I’m getting closer to that point every time. That’s all I care about.”
And it’s more than just about music: “I have a lot more I want to do before I’m 30. I want to venture off as an entrepreneur and have my own fashion and make-up lines — just experiment with the things that I love. I’m a rebel. A rebel flower. And that’s girlie, but tough, too — there’s always that strength and vulnerability. There’s always something beautiful, but there’s still an edge.”
Fighting Drug Addiction with Treatment Despite Genetic Predisposition
If your father or mother experienced drug and alcohol addiction, you have a higher chance of developing the same problem, even if you start out only casually abusing addictive substances. Sometimes addiction can take over and, before you realize it, you are doing the things to your own children that remind you of the addictive behavior of your parents.
Help is only a phone call away. Contact us today at The Orchid to discover what you can do to create a life for yourself that will make your parents proud.