“Desperate drug addicts go on the internet late and night and prowl around looking for writers who will talk about using. I was one of those internet-searchers, looking for help on the fucking internet, night after night. I’m writing this for them. Hi guys.

So many of you have expressed your disgust about how much I talk about drugs. I really tried to stop for a while, but you know what? No one else in women’s magazines or websites is writing about this stuff, so there’s nowhere for a female community to read it. I guess they can buy a zillion wack addiction memoirs, as I have, or go on message boards online, but that’s it.

Why can’t we acknowledge that lots and lots of women abuse drugs? That they are a huge part of so many women’s lives?”

First of all, rest in peace Whitney Houston. I will always love your voice, your music, and your artistry. You are already terribly missed.

However, that’s not the main point of my post. 

I have a serious writer crush on Cat Marnell. She is a fabulous mess, unafraid to discuss her personal problems in an effort to help others AND SHE’S A BEAUTY EDITOR. This chick takes subject matter that is generally superficial (not that superficial is a dirty word; some days I’m as superficial as they come and damn proud of it) and turns it into witty, socially relevant web journalism. I admire her ability to admit that she doesn’t have it all together but still be amazing and funny and just everything. 

So I’m linking this piece partially because I want to gush about her, but also because this thing is f-cking brilliant. Whitney’s death can be used as a platform to discuss the tragedy of drug use, but it should be done respectfully and without condescension—something that I have yet to see anyone else do, or do so candidly.

We cannot fix a problem if we don’t admit it exists, and prescription drug abuse in women flies way to far under the radar for the damage it causes. Read it, and appreciate it not only for the unique writing but also for the genuine concern and humanity of it. And if you’re struggling with a problem like this, read it again and get help. Please. And then read it again on the way there. 

(PS: Inserting shameless and only semi-relevant plug for xoJane, one of my favorite sites, here.)