Melissa Gilbert Shares Her Struggle to Get Sober as Drugfree.org Spokesperson

"my addiction, which is likely genetic"

This is called denial.

"as long as they're under my roof and they're under 18, they have no privacy."

So she's traded one addiction for another. Seek professional help.

Hi nat, You probably belive global warming is nonsense also. Here's the deal on genetic pre-disposition to alcoholisim and drug addiction. The tribes of northern Europe are more likely to become alcoholics than the general population. That is supported by data collected since AA started. Then you have American Indians. They are, again proven by empirical data, more likely to become alcoholics. ALL of us have one symptom in common. That is once we start drinking we don't stop. IF you'd like to actually know what you're talking about in the case of alcoholism read the Big Book of AA. Otherwise anything that falls out your mouth is BS.

Just lQQking for attention and hopeful that a gig will come out of it, disgusting. All the Hollwood has beens try this crap. All they know is Face Time...sad , sad, sad. They will even use their innocent kids to promote their selves. Shameful!

No, not all of us love her. I'm part of everybody and I don't love her. I've enjoyed bits and pieces of her work over the decades, and she's certainly entitled to her opinion. But Melissa Gilbert is IMO just another mediocre acting talent who may in fact now fall into the category of a Hollywood has-been.

And I agree with BTDT (Been There Done That?) who quoted Melissa in the article: "my addiction, which is likely genetic"...then stated the obvious,

"This is called denial."

That's exactly what it is. Yes, there is a genetic tendency to addiction, but many people with that tendency make a conscious decision to not blame their addiction problems on their parents or anyone else. They learn to take responsibility for their own behavior and beat their genes.

Again BTDT quoting Melissa: "as long as they're under my roof and they're under 18, they have no privacy." Then BTDT's response:

"So she's traded one addiction for another. Seek professional help."

Again, BTDT is right. This is the same as using religion to beat an addiction.

People, she wasn't saying the "genetic" comment at an AA meeting. She was saying it to her son, to get in one more reason he shouldn't try drugs. AKA, he may well have the genetic predisposition as well. Context people. Context.

to kaysings and btdt: she is not using the genetic tendency line as a copout. she is absolutely right that a family can have genetic tendencies. she very clearly accepts that it is her problem. she's not blaming the family. i've also told my kids that there is a genetic tendency in our family. one drink or drug could lead down that path. isn't it better to know that this tendency runs in the family and could possibly stop them from trying it in the first place.

the comment about trading one addiction for another is just plain stupid. being vigilant about protecting your kids from drugs is not an addiction. it's called being a good parent. and to imply that religion is an addiction and using it to overcome drug problems is bad is a really stupid comment.

NO WE DONT! HOW DARE YOU SPEAK FOR ALL OF US!!

I agree, she is an excellent actress. How refreshing to have someone who has experienced Hollywood to share her pain, her truth's with the rest of us. Our children can act like everything is ok, you can talk to them everyday about their day, you can think to yourself "we're really close, I think they would confide in me if something was up" Being a nosy mom myself, a note-reader, blew me away, it was a wake up call that I needed to be even more nosy, more present. Peers are inherently the most pressing, important thing in their lives, even though they still love us. I wish I would have been more like Melissa as a mother, and I could just about guarantee, as they get older and have kids of their own, they will feel nothing but gratitude for mom's like Melissa. Most children I've met whether rich or poor, if given too much privacy by their parents make huge mistakes. Teens need us as parents more than ever to be there and if we don't even have a clue as to what's really going on in their lives, how can we help them? Putting the blinders on only creeps up on us...Teenagers fool us because they look like little adults, but their brains have not yet been fully developed, which is one of the reasons they can't handle so many emotional things. They need us to protect them, to pray for them and their peers. It is those of you Melissa who are honest and who want to help, want to make a difference, despite the criticism they may face, who truly make an impact in our world. Whether from Hollywood, or from the house across the street, we are here in this world together, and need one another. We need brave people like you to open the doors. If anything, being from Hollywood makes you even more brave because we all know of the pressures one faces. May God bless you and your family and your campaign infighting for our children!

lingfr, not true! It has something to do with the chemicals in your brain. There is not always sexual abuse or physcial abuse,sometimes it just happens. I had a Grandfather,Father who were alcoholics. My Brother and my Sister have constant battles with the disease. My Brother who now has been sober for seven yrs. is doing well. My Sister, who is just in recoverey for 60days. I don't like it any better than the next person but as you see it can be more than just one person in your family. That's why I stay away from the stuff. I talked to my 3 sons until I was blue in the face about addicition and the choice always comes down to the person.
So it just didn't stop at my Grandfather, Father,Brother,and Sister my oldest son decided to try it too. So you see, there was no abuse, sexual or physical.

thank you SOOO much for your comment! You are so right on the money! SAY IT LIKE IT REALLY IS, not what the want to hear!

I am sure that you base your opinion on the vast research you have done in the areas of genetics and addiction.

Your comments are ignorant, uninformed, and quite frankly, false. The American Medical Association does not even request grant money anymore to research the genetic correlation with addiction. It has already been proven. Why don't you try searching the numerous alcoholism twin studies from Harvard, Vanderbilt, University of Washington (to name a few), that concluded that environment has very little influence when it comes to whether a person becomes addicted.