Thursday, March 1, 2012
Nadia Lockyer Deserves a Chance to Get Well
Politics / People / Health & Medicine Robert Gammon — Thu, Mar 1, 2012 at 10:51 AM
Watching the train wreck that is Nadia Lockyer’s life has been difficult. The Alameda County supervisor is now in drug-and-alcohol rehab after a bizarre incident in which she says she was assaulted by her ex-boyfriend at a Newark motel. She had been looking frail for months. And it’s come out that she took her eight-year-old son to the late-night rendezvous with her ex. Then the Chron reported last weekend, citing anonymous sources, that Lockyer’s ex has a sex video of her. Nadia Lockyer’s personal life, in short, has spiraled out of control.
Things have gotten so bad that this week, Bay Area News Group, owners of the Trib and the CoCo Times, called on Lockyer to resign from office. But as troubling as Lockyer’s actions have been so far, based on what has been reported to date, calling on her to resign is premature.
There is still a tendency in society to view drug and alcohol addiction, and the poor choices people make while in the grips of their influence, as some sort of moral or ethical failing that deserves condemnation. But research increasingly shows that addiction is a disease, and that people who are consumed by drugs and alcohol, need medical treatment. Lockyer, and her husband, state Treasurer Bill Lockyer, seem to understand that, and that’s why she’s back in rehab.
Also, it should be noted, that as bad as things have gotten for her, Lockyer does not appear to have severely compromised her position as a public official. There is no information to date, for example, that she traded official favors in office or engaged in corrupt practices due to her addiction. The most egregious thing she seems to have done so far is put her eight-year-old in harm’s way.
That’s serious, but based on what we know so far, it appears that Nadia Lockyer deserves another chance to get well. Many people, throughout all walks of society, have been able to overcome drug-and-alcohol addiction after getting treatment and are now leading productive lives. There’s reason to hope that Nadia Lockyer can do the same. After all, she led a pretty productive life before her disease took control of her.
Comments (15)
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I think Mr. Bob Sheepleherder pretty much says it best... Here's a small fact that Michael O'Hurley might want to consider... Put ten people in a room and have them shoot heroin for two weeks. At the end of two weeks all ten individuals will be highly addicted heroin. Put ten more people in a room and have them drink booze for two weeks. One out of the ten will show a mental/bodily craving for alcohol. Based on this small tid bit of info, I believe alcoholism may be genetic. However, how does one know if they are alcoholic. Well there are no tests in 2012 that will predetermine alcoholism. So consuming alcohol is pretty much the only way to determine alcoholism. And since alcohol is legal in this country, everyone has the right to drink. I honestly believe that the alcoholic does not have a choice once drinking has commenced and the phenomenan of craving kickes in. Once that switch is turned on, the alcoholic has ZERO choice when that particular bout is over. But once the alcoholism is discovered, and enough lives have been negatively affected by the alcoholism, there is a choice to seek help... There is a solution...
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The story claims she was "assaulted by her ex-boyfriend". This is wrong on many levels. No charges have been filed from what I can find....& as to the man being an "ex-boyfriend" there is a lot unknown there as well. Married to a 70yr old politician.....I am sure it was true love that swept her off her feet & not a drive for power of some sort. So sick of my hard earned $$'s going to people like this. Embarrassing.
People do recover...and go on to lead normal, productive lives.
Posted by J. Davis
I can't believe all you straight and arrow nerds who don't have a clue about life. Like you've never made a poor choice in your time on this earth. I cannot believe the ignorance I read of comments made by people that think they are perfect.
Substance abuse is a disease, and she may be genetically predisposed to addiction. Doesn't matter. Life shows up! Unlike you people who live in a make believe world where all decisions are good ones, most of us make bad choices that we regret.
Having a high profile position does not make a person automatically resistant to these things.
I agree...the decisions she made were poor ones, but we cannot condemn someone under these situations, no matter what their position. Besides, her work was great. She was a voice for the less fortunate. You know this better than any one Mr. Supe. Pres Nate Miley.
All you others living in a cocoon, join the real world, where there are real problems and challenges in life. Give her credit for facing her issue and getting help.
All the best, Supervisor Lockyer...see you soon!
Posted by J. Davis
what a joke! Let's all give her a pat on the back for being a cheating tweeker. Don't you get it that people put her in that position by trusting her to do a public service? Her behavior affects everyone who voted for her. She's not a cashier at Walmart.
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The coverup and the attempt to use the DA to incarcerate the boyfriend worry me more than the fact that she had a boyfriend.
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Alcoholism and addiction are NOT diseases - despite what a politically correct medical establishment says to make middle class DRUNKS feel better about their moral and ethical failings. You cannot "catch" alcoholism or heroin addiction; you have to actually try over a period of time to become addicted. You may have an addictive personality but with this amazing new discovery called SELF CONTROL you can over come anything. I've been there on both counts and never blamed anyone but myself. A nation of entitled crybabies and fingerpointers. Is it any wonder we're two steps from implosion?
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How do these people get jobs in government. Two trips to rehab, domestic abuse. And these are the same people trying to convince us THEY should protect us from greedy business men. This story is more reason why I trust a business person far more than a politician.
I notice that a lot of you still believe that compromising your ethics, for any reason, is OK for a public official. You ever stop to think that YOUR attitude of allowing YOUR politicians get away with lapses in their basic ethics is the reason this country is in the shape it's in?? ... yes, I'll stop trying to convince you that, at a basic level, integrity is the ONLY thing a politician should be judged on, not their religion, not their sociopolitical views, but their ETHICS! If you don't believe it by now, you never will.
And compromising your ethics and common sense is the epitome of failing at the basic level of performance while in public office. If you can betray your own mate, to whom you gave a pledge in marriage with all it implies, why should the people give credence to any promises you make?? TRUST is the basic foundation of service while in public office, if your own mate can't trust you, why should we??
Addiction IS a disease, but if it impacts how you perform your job you should be removed from office. Giving people a pass just because they are "addicted" to this, that and the other is idiotic.
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