Ethan Embry is probably best known for his starring role in Can’t Hardly Wait but more recently as Coyote on Grace and Frankie. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is probably best known for his hood-wearing and elfin, black magic but more recently, set out to reverse the Obama administration’s policy to ease penalties for select nonviolent drug offenses. Sessions just posted his eight-paragraph ‘How To Throw The Book at Practically Everybody That Isn’t Me’ memo, demanding that federal prosecutors pursue, “the most serious offenses… that carry the most substantial guidelines, sentence, including mandatory minimum sentences.” Ethan is a recovered opiate user, having previously been addicted to painkillers and black tar heroin, which is a seriously torturous drug. Although sober for six years, he was moved to speak out on his prior addiction because he feels rehabilitation, not jail, is the best road to recovery for addicts. Friday he took to Twitter to air his thoughts and feelings about the issue:
First they attack our access to affordable treatment, then they send a memo that our sick should be thrown away and treated like criminals
— Ethan Embry (@EmbryEthan) May 12, 2017
For decades we have told addicts that their behavior deserves punishment. That they should be locked away for their addictions.
— Ethan Embry (@EmbryEthan) May 12, 2017
So many people have died because they were afraid and ashamed. This memo from Sessions does nothing to address that. It only makes it worse.
— Ethan Embry (@EmbryEthan) May 12, 2017
So many people have died because they were afraid and ashamed. This memo from Sessions does nothing to address that. It only makes it worse.
— Ethan Embry (@EmbryEthan) May 12, 2017
I was stuck in a cycle of running through a subutex script and smoking tar for about two straight years. 6 years ago today I started my kick
— Ethan Embry (@EmbryEthan) May 14, 2017
Actor Eliza Dushku also just revealed her opiate addiction at a recent conference. Both Ethan and Eliza addressed the shame addicts feel about their addiction regardless of how functional they are in their day-to-day life. After he posted the above tweets, Ethan invited people to contact him with their own stories:
My DM's are open if you need any help getting through the kick. There are little tricks that helped get me lessen the pain.
— Ethan Embry (@EmbryEthan) May 14, 2017
Life won't get any easier for us when we sober up. But I do promise you'll be better at dealing with what comes at you clean.
— Ethan Embry (@EmbryEthan) May 14, 2017
People flooded his Twitter with questions and personal stories. Many of those reaching out sounded in so much pain. There is obviously a lot that can be said to deride The Attorney Keebler’s new policy but putting a personal stamp on this as Ethan and Eliza did is more effective than my rattling statistics at you. I appreciate Ethan emphasizing that stricter punishment will only perpetuate the shame in addiction and therefore work against any progressive policy to combat drug use. Session’s policy goes against the general preference Americans hold about rehab as a better option than jail for non-violent drug offenders. I get that the American people are of very little concern to the current administration but I care about people like Ethan and what he went through. I’m sure some grabbed the lifeline Ethan offered and began their own successful rehabilitation journey as a result. One person rehabilitated instead of jailed is a move in the right direction.
Photo credit: Twitter, WENN Photos and Getty Images
I have so much hate for this administration – every single one of these heartless soulless pr**cks. Sometimes I feel like I could burst.
Ethan Embry, forever dong. He’s great in Grace & Frankie, though everyone is amazing on that show.
He was SO good on Brotherhood too!!
Always loved this dude. Such kind beautiful eyes.
Oh I LOVE that you posted about him! I’ve had a crush on him for nearly 20 years, ever since I watched that Jeff Bridges movie with the boat. … I’d have to google the title.
I have a pretty unpopular opinion on drugs and I’ve gotten into so many “discussions” about the topic. Let’s just say, this Sessions approach is not it. It’s not helping anyone. Not addicts and not society but what am I saying, that’s this administration’s motto. “We’re not helping anyone. Go f*ck yourself.”
ETA: Grace and Frankie is my favorite Netflix show. I love it and everyone on that show is so so good.
They need to do what they do in Portugal. Decriminalization of all drugs and build a ton of rehab facilities. It works!
Good for Embry on speaking out. Addiction is a disease and should be treated as a disease not a crime. Non-violent offenders should not be filling up prisons. Corporate greed fueled the addiction to prescription drugs and more corporate greed coupled with racism is fueling the policy to keep imprisoning people with addiction.
so much this! I had hoped that the opiate crisis would force us to finally see that addiction is a disease that can strike anyone, not just “bad” people. Opiates are over-prescribed and physically addictive. All prescriptions longer than like 30 days should come with mandatory monitored detox/tapering. Just acknowledge the basic science: these drugs cause a PHYSICAL dependency. But no – let’s just keep selling more drugs. And the side effect is that many of us are terrified to take anything stronger than an advil for pain – even short term – for fear of becoming dependent and being shunned for it instead of supported.
Addiction has very little in common with actual disease. It IS a choice of behaviors, a psychological symptom. The ‘disease model’ is contested by actual facts.
I do agree that decriminalization and an increased focus on rehabilitation is a great model, as is de-stigmatization. And I detest Big Pharma as well.
I always thought he was so adorable, I had no idea about his past struggles. It’s nice to see him reaching out to educate and help others. Congrats on his 6 years of sobriety!
What, no mention of Empire Records and Vegas Vacation? Two of my favorites growing up. I always thought he was adorable.
I didn’t know he had an addiction. It makes my heart hurt. Fantastic of him to reach out to others.
Don’t forget he was the “bass player” on That Thing You Do! I always wondered why he wasn’t a bigger star. Now I know.
I remember him from Vegas Vacation. I didn’t know that he struggled with addiction through the years but I am happy to hear that he has recovered and now is raising awareness.
I really, really love him & his message here. Damn the man. Save the empire.
(Embry was on our shortlist of names for our daughter, who is due ANY DAY NOW BUT WHO’S COUNTING. Not necessarily because of Ethan, but the association sure didn’t hurt.)
I’ve always loved him too & it is sad to know he went through a rough patch. Good for him to open up to help others. My high school crush is intact.
I was happy to see Ethan having the time of his life in that mini That Thing You Do reunion. Wish him all the best.
Well, we’ve already passed Rex Manning day, so… Gwar and brownies, anyone?
I’m not sure this country (U.S.) will ever get its shit straight re: drugs, treatments for addiction, and jail. Stigma and ignorance are just the rule of the day I guess. The same sort of attitudes I’ve seen people have about homeless people, for instance (they did it to themselves, they’re lazy, etc.) are so much like attitudes toward addicts (they didn’t have to start using drugs.) The states are severely lacking in real drug education. But hey, we elected a sentient tangerine reality tv star to the highest office in the land, let the dumpster fire continue to smolder.
He just played a 2 episode part in TWD. Said he’d originally auditioned for the role of Rick.
I loved him in Dutch with ed O’Neil when he went by Ethan randle. But definitely in Empire Records.
I had no idea he struggled with addiction. I’m glad he’s been clean and is doing better.
Is that what happened to him?! Before I had meaningful access to the internet, he was one an episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent and he had put on a significant amount of weight. I was curious and this – the upheaval of drug use – explains that.
Knowing nothing about black tar heroin I looked it up on Wikipedia. Parts of that page seem like it was written by someone currently under the influence of something. It’s almost unfollowable.
Wow, I had no idea he went through that. I’m glad to see him doing well and reaching out to help others.
He will forever be “Empire Records’ Ethan Embry” to me.
On a different note, I feel as if mental illness often parallels the same issues that drug addiction creates. There’s the stigmatization that goes along with both. There’s the lack of treatment and medication available especially to low to moderate income individuals. And for groups like the homeless, they continue to repeatedly be incarcerated than offered true rehabilitation. Addiction and mental illness are drains on society but not in the way you would think. Rehabilitation goes a long way to improving the quality of life these victims are use to. Hauling their asses to jail again and again at the dime of the taxpayers does nothing except to ensure the cycle continues over and over. And who are the bad guys now?