My Brother's Keeper

It is satire at its finest.

Ja’mie, the entitled popular private school girl in the HBO series of the same name says:

I have had a few suicide attempts so my Mom took away all the sharp stuff—like pens-- and like my tweezer—and my hair straightener so I don’t burn myself to death. But it is so ridiculous because if I really want to kill myself--I can---I mean for example I can just put my head over there, drop the window,  and like chop off my head.

Therein the wicked farcicality of that dialogue, lies the truth: Everyone has free will.

Which leads me to the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman. I am of the belief that every time an addict reaches for their drug of choice it is an attempt at suicide. Every time an addict walks away still breathing from their last hit it means their attempt failed.

Overdoses are successful auto- kills.

Which is why it is cruel when anyone judges the family and friends of a dead addict for “not being there” or for “not doing something.”

Because no one can control anyone else.

No one is ever anyone else’s keeper.

The self governs itself.

And as Ja’mie correctly observed: if someone really wants to die, they will figure out a way to do it and no one can stop it.