This is my first post and I have chosen to join the Randy Gregory conversation. It is a divisive and emotional subject, so please be gentle.
Why post now and why Randy Gregory? Earlier this week, my son informed me that, after nearly 2 years of sobriety, he used drugs again. For more than a decade, he was in and out of rehab centers. He was kicked off his college basketball team and eventually dropped out of university, lost his wife and alienated most of his family. Before his two years of sobriety, he was living on the streets. I heard many of the same comments about my son as I have read about Randy Gregory -- "he's an idiot", "thrown it all away", "no self control", "can't be trusted", etc. I got through these difficult years by educating myself about substance abuse (I am an engineer, so I have a rather OCD approach to learning something new) and by actively participating in Al-Anon even to the point of being a counselor for family members of addicts. My son is back in a sober living home and has completed two week's sobriety. Obviously, substance abuse is a very personal issue for me... chances are, some of you have been touched by substance abuse as well.
While most of us can occasionally partake an adult beverage or use pot or controlled substances, very few of us will develop a true addiction. The AMA along with similar organizations world-wide acknowledge substance abuse as a disease. Nonetheless, many still believe that substance abuse is simply a matter of choice or behavior. Certainly, that first drink or first use of drugs is a matter of choice. Unfortunately, the addict's brain chemistry reacts differently than most (and, by addict, I am not confining the definition to alcohol or drugs, this equally applies to gambling or other such addictions as well). It is no longer a matter of choice for the addict.
An addict I became familiar with through Al-Anon once explained like this: An known alcoholic walks into a bar and orders a drink. A customer at the bar tells the addict, "if you take that drink, I will blow your brains out" and then lays his handgun on the bar. The addict doesn't think, "whoa, I won't take that drink". No, the addict often thinks... maybe he is kidding, maybe the gun isn't loaded, maybe someone will stop him before he shots me.
Now, back to Randy... while I don't know his clinical diagnosis, he shows all the signs and symptoms of drug addiction. He is not stupid or selfish or lacking self control. He has a disease. I have no doubts, though, that the Cowboy organization is providing him the best resources and counseling available. Randy is responsible and accountable for following through with his program... believe me, though, rehab is often not a one-and-done proposition. The recidivism rate is quite high.
Regardless whether he ever plays for the Cowboys again or not, I wish him all the best and pray for his success.
For those that take the time to read this -- thanks! Just needed to get a few things off my chest.