This is another sad twist for the memory of now decesead Andy Irons, thought to be the most gifted surfer in the world just a few months ago.
The disease of addiction is often characterized by denial. It appears to me as if the family has been in denial while all the red flags pointed towards drug and/or pill addiction. Denial enables the addict to maintain his self-destructive behaviors, often leading to injury or death. Those close to Andy have also reported that corporate pressures from his corporate surfing sponsor Billabong (Irons's family, together with his primary sponsor, Billabong, quickly released a statement saying that the surfer had "reportedly been battling with dengue fever," a mosquito-borne disease they said he'd picked up at the Association of Surfing Professionals' October stop in Peniche, Portugal) were a powerful force against going public about his battle with addiction; this certainly did not aid his chances at getting life-saving mental health treatment.
With this latest turn from the family's attorney requesting that the toxicology report be withheld because the results will negatively impact the "brand" (i.e. money, sales, profits, merchandising) seem to be more evidence that the family and Andy's corporate business team have morally failed the memory of Andy.
More importantly, a real chance was missed here to teach others about the tragedy and loss that accompanies serious drugs usage, even for the young, most physically agile and naturally gifted. Let's see how Andy's younger brother, Bruce, also a well-known surfer, is able to deal with these same demons.
The disease of addiction is often characterized by denial. It appears to me as if the family has been in denial while all the red flags pointed towards drug and/or pill addiction. Denial enables the addict to maintain his self-destructive behaviors, often leading to injury or death. Those close to Andy have also reported that corporate pressures from his corporate surfing sponsor Billabong (Irons's family, together with his primary sponsor, Billabong, quickly released a statement saying that the surfer had "reportedly been battling with dengue fever," a mosquito-borne disease they said he'd picked up at the Association of Surfing Professionals' October stop in Peniche, Portugal) were a powerful force against going public about his battle with addiction; this certainly did not aid his chances at getting life-saving mental health treatment.
With this latest turn from the family's attorney requesting that the toxicology report be withheld because the results will negatively impact the "brand" (i.e. money, sales, profits, merchandising) seem to be more evidence that the family and Andy's corporate business team have morally failed the memory of Andy.
More importantly, a real chance was missed here to teach others about the tragedy and loss that accompanies serious drugs usage, even for the young, most physically agile and naturally gifted. Let's see how Andy's younger brother, Bruce, also a well-known surfer, is able to deal with these same demons.