Should Families of Drug Addicts Try Financial Tough Love?
Mark Kerrigan, brother of American figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, has recently been accused of killing his father in an alcohol-induced rage. Kerrigan’s problems with addiction have been ongoing for years, and that his parents even sued him for more than $100,000, reportedly to push him toward seeking treatment. John Quinones and Christine Brozyna of ABC.com explore this idea of “financial tough love” and whether it is the right approach for those suffering from addiction. Two years ago, Erin Brockovich, the environmental crusader played by Julia Roberts in the 2000 movie of the same name, faced a similar situation with her own daughter, Elizabeth, who was addicted to drugs and alcohol. The then-16-year-old’s $500-a-week drug habit was funded by money she stole from her family. “As a parent, you want to believe your kid, yet you know something’s wrong,” Brockovich said. “I’ve cried myself to sleep. And I’ve honestly sat and shook in a corner.” Elizabeth refused to admit to her mother th
