Back when watching the BBC show Prime Suspect, I was surprised at the very in-control detective ends up alcoholic, then wondered if reflexes of wariness, inability to relax, compulsive thinking, etc., could well lead to addiction. We have the strange saga of Jordan Peterson playing out now.

Is there still a trope of “alcoholic writer”? The book The Trip to Echo Spring: On Writers and Drinking is on my shelf, haven’t read it. Cultural narratives are comforting and when one is playing with them or outside them, there’s a wearing effect. I’d love to offer Keats’ Negative Capability as a cure- learn to live with mystery!