Justin Townes Earle, Rap on addiction problems &@

[@danielmims8467]

He was my cousin . He was a few months older but we had alot of the same demons despite coming up far away from each other. After finding out about JTs passing , that's when I started trying to lay it down. Took me a couple of months but I'm about 17 months in now. Yesterday was jts birthday .

[@beachdog67]

Hang in there, Dan. If my math is right, you should have over two years clean time now. I'm an old man, but I wasn't always. 40 years clean and sober here to tell you we CAN recover, and the big surprise is that this life turns out to be a mighty fine roll, with a lot of what we were always hoping to find in the before times. Best to you, brother.

[@danielmims8467]

@@beachdog67 thanks for these kind and encouraging words. It's easy most days because it has been 2 years and I quit cold turkey and all I remember as hoe much it hurt. I don't remember what opiates feel like . Not many people truly understand. I was just thinking the other day , August 20th 2020 was the day we lost JT and he had only met a couple of my friends down here and they both fell victim to this terrible stuff in fact one was 13 years to the day of justin. Joey was his name. Strange coincidence.

[@beachdog67]

@@danielmims8467 Be well, brother.

[@Itsa6stringthang]

@@danielmims8467 I hope life is good for you, no matter what. It's too fucking short

[@danielmims8467]

@@Itsa6stringthang thank you . And you're right . Had a good show at the ryman the other night

[@helenfield7363]

We all want more JTE. 😢

[@davidlynch4852]

He preached what he wanted to hear. Guess no one asked him why he was hurting. Rest easy Justin.

[@lastnamefirst4035]

I like your comment. Its really sad but maybe Justin was wanting somebody to ask why he hurt

[@anthonybryant3038]

How do you know no one asked? People act like addicts are straight shooters who are begging to be saved, and are willing to sit down and open up. Justin was addicted for a long time. Just like a lot of my family members. We asked everything. Begged to help. Most of the time we were told to get the fuck out.

[@anthonybryant3038]

@@lastnamefirst4035 Thanks for the response. I didn't mean to come off angry, and I appreciate your sincere reply. You're right, most addicts are bad people. They don't start that way, but we can't pretend that they don't hurt practically everyone they interact with. Most serious addicts look at friends or family and only view them as one thing--a possible source to help their addiction. And if that person won't get them high, they move on to the next one. I can't claim to know anything about JTE either, but addiction we can both agree is a huge issue, and if there was an easy fix we'd all give it a shot.

[@amsydow]

I think, having anger just won’t solve or help us I guess. I get where you guys are coming from. And I too have been hurt numerous times. However, I think for anything to get better... we still have to try to understand that any addict hurting others by their words, stealing etc.... they are doing that because they hurt. So I guess really all we can ask is “why do you hurt” and just like Justin said, it won’t solve the issue. But it can get closer than anything else. Perhaps asking them why they hurt could make them feel not alone and maybe someday they’ll decide to get help. Or maybe they’ll be ready for it. But I guess it’s a lot better to say why do you hurt than “what’s wrong with you.” I don’t think addicts are bad people. They carry lots of pain and they say mean things because they don’t love themselves. That’s sad. And I guess at times I’ve gotten angry and I’ve most definitely left an addict so I can be happy and well. But I still hope they find their way. And occasionally I still ask them how they are doing. In the moment things hurt, but I know in the end... they never really Meant to hurt me. And they hurt way more than they could possibly ever hurt me. They’re ill. And only they can choose to help themselves. But shaming them or acting like they’re shit won’t help.

[@amsydow]

Not saying you guys are shaming. Just repeating Justin’s words. And defending that asking “why do you hurt” can at least get closer. Or maybe just be the only thing we can do, and either they care to open up and either the e ready to change or they aren’t. But the opposite will sure not solve anything.

[@jdavidsavage]

The intro was just as much about himself a Billie Holiday. The performance brought tears to my eyes. He is so very missed. I hope he no longer hurts.

[@LeahSugarB]

This is so hard to watch in light of Justin's recent passing. I've found myself having the same selfish thoughts about him...how much more of Justin's music we could have had going forward if he could have just held on. RIP JTE 💚

[@helenfield7363]

I love JTE. The interrupters are so wrong. He was speaking his truth. 💔I miss him.

[@krisk2898]

Such true words ♥️ "The question is not why the addiction but why the pain." - Dr Gabor Maté

[@wanderinggeri8477]

He's gone. Peace to you Justin.

[@aaronz9410]

Sadly Justin was living on borrowed time. He saw himself from the outside, yet couldn't change it. That in itself tells you its something deeper than a simple choice. Rest easy JTE.

[@bradleslie3760]

Thank you brother for your message of compassion to all those who suffer from addiction. It’s absolutely the right question and the only one that matters. You are missed

[@dianeovercash6739]

I can't even express how beautiful this is.

[@at_brunch3836]

I agree/x

[@helenfield7363]

I want to enjoy all the music he would have made. Miss JTE💔

[@2busysecretary]

That was so moving, and true. He is very insightful just like his father.

[@LeahSugarB]

Because they both lived it.

[@auntymoi]

I love this dude miss him so bad

[@rennur505]

I miss this guy. This was an enlightening speech/comment.

[@australopithecusss]

One human to another, thank you Justin for your thoughtfulness, your kindness and your humanity. I am always affected by your lyrics, and your dad's too. You take ordinary words move them around with unlikely suspects of words to manifest viscerally, feelings that touch and move me at my core, thank you, and all manner of love and good fortune to you and yours, Lori

[@langstongrandma]

What a heartfelt lesson from a very intelligent and talented young man. Thanks for posting this.

[@rebeccafritz4558]

Thankful for his candor, such a voice lost. 💔

[@bgierat]

I saw him live twice here in Chicago... what a talent and what a loss. Sorry he couldn’t beat his demons...

[@larsgrelck3456]

Awesome. Thank you, Justin. THANK YOU. And to the heckler... you are now on KZbin, dimwit. Congrats!

[@roderickbalt8993]

Very moving, very beautiful and very true. In my mind he's describing the unfortunate misunderstanding between those who see and feel the underworld and those who don't. The Earles feel so much, especially for others but I am unsure if they felt/feel enough for themselves.

[@carladandy2433]

👌

[@frarfarf]

I love this guy so much, this is one of his best songs amongst dozens of beauties, thanks for the upload

[@sandymac5309]

He opened my eyes to “Lady Day “ gone far to soon for such a talented person . This song IS one of his best

[@FormulaMonte]

Rest in peace sweet man 😕

[@RobertoGonzalez-ot8hn]

He was an addict himself, Justin passed of an overdose of cocaine- laced fentanyl. Thanks for all your music, Justin, RIP bud.

[@debbiespleet6100]

I hope he no long hurts. I know where he was coming from.

[@gmoore6166]

Hurt is only one element of addiction, bad choices is another, I’ve known many people in my life who hurt but aren’t shackled to the ball and chain of addiction through bad choices and decisions. My brother was addicted to alcohol his whole life after two tours in Vietnam and sadly we lost him. I lost countless friends in the early to mid 70’s to drug overdose. Everyone has demons but it’s how you confront them and the choices and decisions to handle them that can be the difference in overcoming them or succumbing to them. JTE was a beautiful soul who could articulate his feelings but his demons were too much to overcome. God Bless and R.I.P JTE.

[@carlahelin5203]

Sorry you lost your brother.

[@beachdog67]

My heart is with you Mr. Moore, and I hear your pain at the losses. But I must tell you (and I say this as respectfully as can be imagined), you don't know what you don't know. It's not a matter of "bad choices." If it were as simple as "make better choices" I can promise you that many of those you lost would have, at some point, stepped back and said "this is not serving me or those I love." And it might have been hard, but their path would have changed. Brother, I am an alcoholic and addict with over 40 years since I picked up a drink or a drug. So I know a little about how this works. And yes, I have had my heart broken more times than I can count over the years because of those we've lost. By now I know how wonderful my life in recovery has been, and I would be a damned fool to trade that for a momentary buzz. So for anyone at the front end, and contemplating life without alcohol, drugs, or whatever you turn to? Stick with it. It is more worth doing than you can imagine. But my point was: For most of us, this is not a choice we can successfully make day after day without help and support, usually from others who have walked this same road. We just physically aren't wired the same in our brains as you, Mr. Moore. We don't react to drugs and alcohol the same way. Our whole endorphin system is different. But (and this, I believe is key) most of us do with time and and experience find a life in recovery to be the "no brainer" option for us.

[@robertwiley7744]

Love me some Justin Townes Earle!

[@whitebluesky6932]

An applaud to this philosophy.

[@helenfield7363]

This was in Kalamazoo Michigan. Where I first saw him years earlier play at the Kalamazoo Public Library.

[@starac2346]

This is so real!! Rip 😭

[@emorybolling]

RIP JUSTIN

[@helenfield7363]

Wish we could have more JTE💔

[@erikkibler3466]

No more pain.rip brother ❤️

[@MrBeanthere1]

Wow thank you!

[@bobbyraney4936]

Go easy and fly high brother

[@myers_madness]

Sadly this is a man that knew all too well what he was trying to educate others into understanding. Misunderstood and fed up (hence the response to the dumbass heckling). May he Rest In Peace! Free of all the hurt. His fight is now over.

[@hawk2299]

I wished I could have met you Justin. I know that you suffered here on earth. I know deep in Steve's heart he loved you as much as he could. I hope you're playing for God now. Miss ya buddy

[@lastnamefirst4035]

We write our comments as tho somehow Justin will see them RIP Justin

[@marchpig]

Oh man, you knew...

[@saidinjest]

The problem is, you can ask some people why they hurt and they will not be able to answer you. I know from experience.

[@maryf7216]

1/4/24 and forever ❤️

"Marijuana is the answer." What a douche. "Hey, look at me! Look at me!"

[@SteveJones379]

RIP Justin Townes Earle

[@avettnation5656]

Gone too soon. 💔

[@davecooke7868]

Two years later he’s dead from a cocaine overdose laced with fentanyl .He didn’t know the coke had fentanyl in it but nevertheless a drug overdose. You can see in this video he has been drinking and maybe on drugs. R.I.P. JTE a great artist lost again

[@carladandy2433]

😭💖

[@kenwilson6850]

Why did you hurt so much Justin Townes Earle?

[@franbeller5897]

Justin, why do you hurt?

[@lufflyleigh]

😭

[@josephmasone1478]

Ughh

[@rebeccafritz4558]

💔💔💔

[@wasupfool5692]

A shame he couldn't beat addiction

[@sydneyfox3563]

RIP. I used to listen to his dad and didn't know his son was also a musician. Was just catching up on his sound posthumously. Interesting to hear his opinion on addiction. Sad that he was a lifelong addict. Here in Vancouver (Canada) our public policies were exactly what he wished for ("What-is-your-life-pain?" harm reduction; free and stigma-free heroin and methadone; every possible free support for every aspect of life). BUT all it's done in 20 years is create a professional industry/class of highly funded (NGOs) or paid (gov) poverty-pimps and parasites who live off the junkies and homeless (homeless-by-choice here). And the junkies are emboldened and entitled. The problem hasn't been reduced at all. Liberal, far-left "anti-poverty" and addiction policies are a failure. The problem isn't solved through compassion. Good luck to Justin on the other side. Sad he left a child behind.

[@mrjasondylan]

No it's not solved with compassion or tough love, jail or any other way bottom line is the government created war on drugs has been a complete failure for the last 20 years. Basically we don't know the answer people are gonna do what they gotta do all Justin is saying is you wouldn't say to someone bipolar what the hell is wrong with you so don't ask an addict the same question. He's obviously speaking from experience God Bless his soul .

[@peteWxM1970]

Interesting I’ve listened to a lot of dr gabor mate who practiced in Canada for 12 years.real interesting guy to listen to on the subject of addiction.thanks for the insight.from north 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 wales

[@gmoore6166]

What’s sad is if you’re an addict they’ll fix you up with free stuff and drugs along with free needles and a safe haven to shoot up and the works but if you’re suffering from cancer you have to mortgage your home and empty your savings for treatment. The government has created a mess when it comes to drug addiction. The government ruins everything they touch and sadly the government is too big and intrusive into our lives where they want to control every aspect, we’ve lost lots of beautiful souls because of government intrusion and control!

[@MrSwitchblade327]

Govt in a nutshell. Just like military industrial complex...oh new tech that might help millions??? Let's see if we can use it to kill in war instead. Govt are all parasites leaving destruction pain death and heartache in their tracks as lifer politicians become millionaires by funneling all the citizens monies, supposed to help those in poverty and need, into personal organizations and funds to be diverted straight back into their pockets. As they overflow borders ,embolden criminals, and incite the people to fight each other.

[@mrshou112]

Except the way forward IS having a safe supply, stigma free drug use and methadone + MAT. All the studies prove that it works. In switzerland severe enough addicts are put on a heroin maintenance program and are able to use up to a few times a day. This drastically reduced crime and overdose there. ALSO, the safe supply programs (giving addicts dilaudid or pharma equivalent to heroin/fent) in Canada haven't been around for "20 years". They've been limited availability since 2020/2021.. If you did any research you would see that these programs have been successful with the few people who have been let on them. And you know what brought us to where we are now? 50+ years of "Just say no" and "the war on drugs". Not having compassion and arresting/stigmatizing addicts for decades is what perpetuated the cycle. The fentanyl epidemic is a DIRECT RESULT of these right wing policies. The police/DEA have created a black market where the most potent and deadly drugs are the ones being manufactured and sold now. The cartel loves the war on drugs. Business is booming for them. Methadone and medicated assisted treatment have an 80% success rate compared to the alternatives (AA/NA is sitting at a staggering 5% success rate!). As long as you have prohibition and allow the black market to thrive, then fentanyl and worse will only become more and more prevalent.