The Betty Ford Story

YEARS ago, The Betty Ford Story aired on television. This was a movie that told the story of her addiction and recovery. At a point during the movie, a fairly emotional scene took place. The family is all sitting around confronting Betty Ford.

Her son says, “Mother, you are destroying yourself; you are destroying this family, and you are killing yourself. Mother, you are a drunk, you are an addict.” The mother was infuriated. She told her son that he was being very disrespectful and questioned his right to speak to her that way.

She said, “How can you say these things to me? I am your mother!” The boy said, “Mother, I can say it because it is the truth.” This confrontation was the catalyst for the establishment of the Betty Ford Clinic.

Now this same place helps a lot of other people overcome their addictions. Many of the people who have come to the clinic were able to face their addictions because, like Betty Ford’s son, someone had the guts to tell the truth.