Monday Morning Musing: The Terrible Case of Hunter Biden

Oh, it's not what some would have us think. It's not Hunter Biden's laptop any more than it was Hillary's emails. Distraction is the mark of those who have nothing productive to say and don't want the rest of us to realize it.

The trial of Hunter Biden brought back for me and, I would wager, for innumerable other families scarred and wounded by addiction, just how hard it is on some days to be in the world with any hope in the face of it all. When addiction is present it takes over the room. Over lives. Nothing that you do in the course of your day is untouched by its ugly tentacles. People with brilliant minds and beautiful hearts and bright futures fall victim to addiction and nothing, nothing is ever the same. I know this intimately.

The heartbreak of Hunter Biden's trial is not so much that he is being tried on a felony charge that people aren't usually brought to trial on. Revenge and retribution being what they are these days. The heartbreak of Hunter Biden's trial, for me, is watching his family put on their bright shiny faces that just barely mask the despair and chaos of all they've been through and stand before the world. Watching them come into the courtroom to listen to or testify to the worst of those times. Those stories didn't just supply evidence for the prosecution, they dredged up for all of them the heartache of the past and made them wonder how they could possibly move forward. That testimony made them consider the unwelcome, but always present possibility that the addiction could take over their lives again. I promise you, it did.

I respect the hell out of the Bidens for the ways they continue to support and love Hunter. Because that's the riskiest course of action with an addict. You know there's a high liklihood your love and support will be abused again. And again. And again. You know there could be more lies. More rehab. More money. More betrayal.

I respect the Bidens for not once crying foul over this trial. For not once saying "it's a witch hunt!" Because they could. They are entitled to that.

I respect the President for scrapping his schedule to fly to meet his son when the guilty verdict was announced. This wasn't about politics. This was about parenthood.

In 2023, in the United States, 40.3 MILLION people had a substance abuse disorder. Only 6.5% of them received treatment. Approximately 107,000 of them died. *

Addiction is a terrible disease and those it counts as victims are the addict and their futures, their loved ones and their/our wider communities. Those numbers climb year after year. If you find yourself impacted by addiction, I encourage you to find help. No, I beg you to find it. If you are a family member, please find an Al Anon or Nar Anon group. If you are using, please, please, please....ask someone you trust to help you find the help you need. Ask your physician, ask your counselor, ask your pastor. The National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Helpline is 1-800-662-4357. You can also dial 988 for help at any hour.

*National Institute on Drug Abuse