Addicted to Addiction

When reading "Jekyll and Hyde" I was very appalled that Jekyll allowed the potion to take over. The thrill and satisfaction he felt from his time as Hyde started to rule his life. I could not believe the anyone could knowingly fall as far as to let themselves become dependent on such horrible feelings. Then when I was reflecting on our Socratic seminar of the book, I remembered something I myself had said. I compared Jekyll to an alcoholic. At the time I was using the smilie to support my viewpoint on whether or not Jekyll should be punished for the crimes that Hyde committed. Having had time to think about the situation a little more, I began to see parallels to a few of my friends lives. One of them got mixed up with drugs and alcohol at work. He knew what he was doing was wrong but he continued to do it regardless. I do not know if he started out of curiosity or for want of an escape from reality, but I know he was not bad person. Just as Jekyll did, over time, my friend became addicted. He started doing other things that were really hurting his family and he tried to stop, as Jekyll attempted to do after Hyde killed a man. Unfortunately my friends story ended the same as Jekyll's did. He overdosed one night and his mom found him in the morning in the most sorry looking state. I am sad to say that my friends story is not the only one of its kind, the government reports that at least 19,000 deaths occur each year from chronic drug use and drug addiction. Despite that fact and having someone close to me go thought a similar mindset as Jekyll, I still cannot understand. There is a choice that we all have to make, I guess some of us give in too easily.