Nelsan Ellis' family helped fight addiction stigma by speaking out about his death
In the immediate wake of Nelsan Ellis' death from complications following heart failure, his family did something remarkable.
On Monday, after news of Ellis' death spread, they chose to elaborate on how the 39-year-old True Blood actor experienced heart failure in the first place.
The health crisis was brought on by alcohol withdrawal, they said in a statement delivered to The Hollywood Reporter by Ellis' manager. In fact, Ellis had long battled addictions to both drugs and alcohol, and had made several previous attempts to receive treatment.
"Nelsan was ashamed of his addiction and thus was reluctant to talk about it during his life," they said. "His family, however, believes that in death he would want his life to serve as a cautionary tale in an attempt to help others."
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In just those two sentences, Ellis' family sent a powerful message about the harsh reality of addiction, the importance of family support, and the possibility of recovery.
Carrie Fisher's family framed her disease similarly when the actress' autopsy revealed she had cocaine and other drugs in her system at the time of her death in December.
"My mom battled drug addiction and mental illness her entire life. She ultimately died of it," Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd, told ET. "She was purposefully open in all of her work about the social stigmas surrounding these diseases."
Indeed, despite years of progress toward reducing stigma, unforgiving judgment remains a common thread of public and private conversations about the chronic mental illness that is addiction.
Recently, for instance, an Ohio sheriff said his deputies wouldn't carry a type of medication that can reverse the fatal effects of an opioid overdose, citing his preference for prevention efforts instead.
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"I'm not the one that decides if people live or die," he told The Washington Post. "They decide that when they stick that needle in their arm."
While that sheriff's approach isn't popular among law enforcement, according to the Post, the misconception that people who experience substance use disorders are in full control of their destiny is not an unusual one.
The Ellis family statement, in contrast, offers an important antidote: love and compassion.
"While Nelsan has lost his life, in his death is the opportunity — thanks to his family — to perhaps change the terms of the debate for the sake of those who still suffer," says William C. Moyers, vice president of public affairs and community relations for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, an addiction treatment center and advocacy organization.
"While Nelsan has lost his life, in his death is the opportunity ... to perhaps change the terms of the debate for the sake of those who still suffer."
Changing that conversation means recognizing that addiction does not discriminate, Moyers says. An estimated 40 million Americans over the age of 12 meet the clinical definition for addiction to drugs, alcohol, or nicotine. In 2016, more than 59,000 people died because of a drug overdose, according to preliminary data analyzed by the New York Times. The 19 percent spike in drug-related deaths between 2015 and 2016 represents the largest annual increase ever recorded in the U.S.
Patients and their loved ones may not realize that evidence-based treatment can be difficult to find or obtain, because of its cost or a dearth of local professionals who specialize in addiction medicine. Relapse is also common, just as it is for those managing chronic health conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
Some might look at Ellis' previous unsuccessful attempts to seek treatment and think there's no hope for themselves or loved ones who are dealing with addition. Moyers disagrees: "There's always hope. If you tried over and over again, try again."
Stepping forward to speak about the circumstances of Ellis' death required "courage, commitment, and clarity" of his family, Moyers says. It also meant acknowledging the circumstances of his death and seeing "an obligation and an opportunity" to help others.
"In this country, there is still a lot of misperception and downright stigma around substance use disorders or addiction," Moyers says. "The only way to counter that is with the truth."
If you are seeking information and treatment for a substance use disorder, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP. If you want to talk to someone about an emotional or mental health crisis, text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Here is a list of international resources.
Related Video: Carrie Fisher was a bold advocate for people with mental illness
Topics Health Mental Health Social Good
Rebecca Ruiz is a Senior Reporter at Mashable. She frequently covers mental health, digital culture, and technology. Her areas of expertise include suicide prevention, screen use and mental health, parenting, youth well-being, and meditation and mindfulness. Rebecca's experience prior to Mashable includes working as a staff writer, reporter, and editor at NBC News Digital and as a staff writer at Forbes. Rebecca has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and a masters degree from U.C. Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism.
