Judy Garland & the Pervasive Stigma of Addiction
Updated 1/2/25
In the movie Judy, there was a moment toward the end of the film when I thought to myself, Oh, for God’s sake – why doesn’t she get her act together? While a thousand ticket holders waited at a venue in London to hear her sing, Judy Garland was drinking in her hotel room again – a mess in silk pajamas. Another romantic misstep and a lifetime of singing for her supper were the emotional triggers. Muttering, “I can’t,” she pours another tumbler of booze and chews a few pills from a medicine bottle. The mystique of Garland and her addictions has also been piqued recently with the release of the film Wicked.
The Pervasive Stigma of Addiction
Of course, in Judy, her all-suffering handler drags her off the floor, zips her into a sequined gown, and, after a breakneck ride through London streets, shoves her onto the stage. Sometimes, Judy performs like the superstar she is. But mostly, she’s inebriated and pelted with dinner rolls from disappointed crowds who have come to hear her famous voice. The movie makes it clear this is Judy Garland’s last chance. She’s out of money. Her children, who she’s been dragging onto the stage at various dive lounges, live with the ex-husband. And she’s trying to make a go of another flagging romantic relationship, working against a reputation for being impossible to deal with – a lush. It is also clear that Judy is not going to make it happen. She is just too vulnerable and too angry.
I corrected my Judy-get-it-together thoughts pretty quickly. I am a person in long-term recovery, after all, and I work at Sanford Behavioral Health. Judy Garland was struggling with a chronic brain disease. She also ticked every box in the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) scale.
Whether the movie was accurate or not, it has gotten people talking about Judy Garland’s substance use disorder (SUD). So has the more recent movie, Wicked! The film Judy also lays bare her adverse childhood experiences. While in her early teens, Judy was a drug user. Her handlers prescribed amphetamine-based diet pills to control her weight and maintain a brutal movie-making schedule. She was simultaneously monitored, verbally abused, and left vulnerable by the MGM/Louis B. Mayer machine.
The destructive pattern of drugs and alcohol also plagued Judy Garland’s adult life. And her substance use disorder culminated in her death at 47 from an accidental overdose. What a waste. On an episode of UK’s This Morning, Judy’s daughter, Lorna Luft (who has not seen the movie), said she believed her mother “would have lived much longer if it had not been for the stigma surrounding addiction in the 1960s.”ย Luft’s comment made me think of my insensitive reaction to Judy’s spiral in the movie. It also made me think about whether stigma, even in 2025, is still a pervasive detriment to recognizing and recovering from the behaviors born of substance use disorders.
Somewhere over the rainbow …
What is Stigma?
Stigma is defined as “a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.” The behavior associated with an SUD is the “mark of disgrace” that comes with the disease. For example, we feel annoyance and disappointment when Judy Garland, a beloved performer, stumbles onto the stage and slurs into her microphone when her substance-seeking behavior ruins a perfectly good evening.
Understandably, a “bad performance” or a missed milestone causes embarrassment and shame for the person suffering from an SUD. Judy feels guilty and lousy the morning after one of her meltdowns. This also creates stigmatized perceptions about addiction among the public. Which, of course, perpetuates the private shame associated with drug addiction. It is a vicious cycle.
How Can We Address and Reduce Stigma?
At Sanford Behavioral Health, we address the pervasive stigma associated with substance use disorders every day. Treatment begins here with a self-affirming, safe environment. Our campus, located in a residential neighborhood, goes a long way to dispelling negative stereotypes about how those with the disease of addiction behave.
Sanford also addresses stigma with the following:
Group Therapy
One of the problems Judy faced was isolation due to her dependence on drugs. Group therapy in a gender-affirming environment allows our clients to share their experiences. And by listening to others in the same boat, from all walks of life, the shame of past behaviors is lessened. Positive community and friendships in recovery are established.
Family Education
At Sanford, we consider the whole family when individualizing treatment. Our masters-level counselors also consider the lasting impact addiction has on a family. Our Family Program helps establish boundaries, quell stigma, and begin the healing process for everyone involved.
Outpatient, Healthy Living, Relapse Prevention and Mindfulness
A Continuum of care is a cohesive system that guides and tracks Sanford clients through all levels of treatment intensity. These days, we recognize the importance of a long-term continuum of treatment programs, classes, and resources. The therapeutic alliance between a client and counselor is vital.
Establishing a Recovery Plan and Community
Judy could have used a friend in the recovery community. Her comeback in London might have ended differently if she had someone to call when she felt vulnerable, angry, or afraid. At Sanford, our clients respond best to treatment when they form community alliances and involve loved ones in their recovery. We help them establish a support system.
Speaking Out in the Community About the Stigma of Addiction
Addiction is still a difficult subject to talk about in “polite society.” But at Sanford, key staff members speak out about the disease of addiction at schools, colleges, hospitals, women’s and men’s groups, and community mental health organizations. Sanford Founder Rae Green serves as an industry expert on television, radio, and social media.
In Partnership with Like-Minded Organizations
We also partner with other stigma-busting organizations and are strengthened by these alliances. For example, I Understandย – a non-profit organization that offers compassionate comfort to those affected by suicide and mental illness. Families Against Narcotics (FAN) – a community-based program for those seeking recovery, those in recovery, and family members affected by addiction. And the Alano Club of West Michigan – home to numerous addiction treatment programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Judy Garland, Stigma and Addiction
Someday, I wish upon a star. Wake up where the clouds are far behind me. Where trouble melts like lemon drops. High above the chimney top. That’s where you’ll find me. Over the Rainbow by Harold Arlen
The poignancy of the avoidable loss of Judy Garland is that addiction cannot be “wished upon.” Addiction does not “melt like lemon drops.” Until we talk about addiction without shame, welcome those with SUDs into treatment, and establish the medical models necessary to address this disease, we will continue to lose vital members of humankind.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, eating disorders, or co-occurring mental health conditions, donโt wait to change your life โ click the link below to speak with an admissions specialist today.
