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REVIEWS: Michael Farrell Rain in my Heart BMJ 2006; 333: 1127 [Full text]

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Re: rain in my heart

Robert I. Dunkley   (27 November 2006)

Addiction Free

Hugh Mann   (29 December 2006)

Re: rain in my heart 27 November 2006
Robert I. Dunkley, pharmacist Eightlands Pharmacy Dewsbury WF13 2PA Send response to journal: Re: Re: rain in my heart	I hurtled home from a postgraduate meeting to see this programme, and it was as Michael Farrell said " bleak and shocking", but as my wife and I watched the programme, we wanted to seize the film-maker by the throat and shake him, thoroughly. He seemed to be-rate every subject he had by saying, "can't you you give up - can't you see what it is doing to you" OF COURSE THEY CAN'T - they are alcoholics!!! Paul Watson, the director, made a brilliant film, and the equable attitude of Dr Smith-Laing impressed my wife and I, but I wish he (Paul Watson) hadn't made the comments he did. Competing interests: None declared
Addiction Free 29 December 2006
Hugh Mann, Physician Eagle Rock, MO 65641 Send response to journal: Re: Addiction Free	Addiction begins in childhood. Our parents reward us for good behavior with sweets like ice cream, candy, and soda. What a pity that the sweetness of childhood is ruined by the sweetness of junk food. As teenagers, we copy our parents' addictions to bitter substances like alcohol, tobacco, and coffee. By the time we've reached our twenties, addiction has taken over our lives, and we're chronically sick. What a pity that the sweetness of young adulthood is ruined by the bitterness of addictive substances. Sometimes we experiment with drugs and lose our independence, dignity, and sanity. When we ask our parents and doctors for help, they give us pep talks and pills, but no practical advice. In order to escape from addiction, we must review the mistakes of childhood. As children, our lives revolve around family, food, and fun - but not health. By giving us sweets, our parents unwittingly squander the magical health that Mother Nature gave us. Mother Nature is wise and forgiving. She wants us to be healthy, but we must listen to her. She wants us to understand that childhood does not last forever, but the mistakes of childhood do. It is our responsibility to review our childhood and to correct the mistakes that were made. We must give up our craving for sweets and shift our focus from fun to health. We must understand that our parents are not perfect, and that we should only copy their good habits, not their bad ones. Alcohol, tobacco, and coffee do not make us mature - they make us sick. Drugs do not make us cool - they make us cruel. When we take drugs, we hurt ourselves and others. We must accept our limitations and understand that addiction is stronger than us. There is no way to compromise with addictive substances or to use them in moderation. We must eliminate all addictive substances from our life. This will enable us to regain our birthright - the magical health of childhood. Competing interests: None declared