Hunter Biden’s Trial on the Addiction Community

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In the News: Hunter Biden’s Trial, His Struggle with Addiction and Its Rippling Effects on the Addiction Community

Earlier this summer, Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, was convicted of 3 felony charges related to illegal gun possession that went hand in hand with addiction. Hunter Biden’s journey with addiction, rehab, and underlying loss and trauma has been in the public spotlight for years; it’s a story that is not only seen in the political and celebrity world but relates to millions of families across the United States as their loved ones are battling addiction.

“Addiction is hard, but it’s even harder on those that continue to come back to you and offer you love time and time again, and you reject it, and seemingly ­consciously choose a drink or a drug over them. It’s infuriating and frustrating”

-Hunter Biden.

Addiction was at the core of the trial

According to prosecutors, Hunter Biden was untruthful about his drug use on a federal form when he purchased a handgun in 2018. U.S. federal law prohibits users of illegal drugs from owning firearms, and it was determined that at the time he purchased the gun, he was struggling with an addiction to crack cocaine. This trial came right before the first U.S. presidential candidate debate of 2024, where the topic of addiction treatment was brought up for debate by the moderator. Still, neither candidate was able to address the topic of addiction treatment. As much as this trial was weaved into U.S. politics as President Biden is up for re-election, this trial was a sober reminder that addiction could affect everyone, regardless of their race, ethnicity, status in society, which neighborhood they live in, or household income. This was highlighted by the juror selection as at least 26 of the 65 potential jurors for the Hunter Biden case were affected by addiction in some way or another, whether they themselves or a family member or close friend struggled with drug or alcohol abuse. Of that group of 26, four were chosen for the final jury, with a fifth serving as an alternate. 

Hunter Biden shared his battle with addiction in his tell-all 2021 memoir “Beautiful Things” which was described by Entertainment Weekly as “harrowing, raw, and quite generously honest.” His accounts of his battle with addiction, the tragic loss of his brother Beau, and his childhood trauma that underlies the death of his mother and sister in a tragic car accident are vividly illustrated and raw in his memoir, unfortunately so honest that this book was used against him in court to file charges related to his addiction and unlawful gun purchase. The evidence against Biden was “overwhelming” and included his book, “in which he made countless incriminating statements about his years-long drug usage, including during the time period he purchased and possessed the gun,” prosecutors said.

Addiction is a family disease

Hunter writes, “Addiction is the great equalizer and doesn’t care about pedigree.” This trial not only highlighted Hunter Biden’s struggles with addiction but also a struggle that resonates with millions of people in the United States. Two-thirds of all Americans say that drug addiction has either personally affected them or their families. Addiction can affect anyone; addiction rips through families, affects mental health, and creates financial hardships for everyone involved.  

Hunter Biden is in the limelight of this case because he is somebody’s son, Joe Biden’s son. This is a stark reminder to all of us that when someone is struggling with addiction, they are always someone’s son or daughter, and there is always a parent or a loved one involved. It is important for society to remember that people who struggle with addiction are people with lives, feelings, and emotions. Addiction recovery has the power to transform people struggling with addiction into accountable, empathetic people who can think clearly and want to help others. As Hunter Biden worked through his sobriety, he chose to write his memoir because he wanted to help others who were struggling in the depths of their addiction.

“For those people that could identify immediately with that vivid detail, I provide about what it’s like to be mired in that awful space of addiction. And most of all, I wrote it for people just to let them know they’re not alone”

 -Hunter Biden.

Breaking down stigma to seek treatment

In addition to illuminating the sheer number of Americans impacted by addiction, Hunter Biden’s trial is also creating critical awareness around the current stigmatizing language used to describe drug use and addiction.  

Addiction professionals and community advocates have called for an end to the use of words like “addict,” opting for less judgmental descriptors like “people experiencing addiction.” 

Addiction is a disease, such as diabetes or heart disease, and it is important that language frames addiction as a health issue and shows respect to the people who are impacted by this disease. 

Terms like “addict” are harmful because they contribute to stigma, and this stigma makes it difficult for people to seek help, including turning to family and friends for support. Amid a national overdose crisis, it is important that people feel safe and comfortable when seeking out help from their loved ones and addiction professionals. To read more about how stigma affects addiction and treatment, click here.

Seeking help

Seeking help for addiction starts with a compassionate support system, community, and addiction treatment professionals who recognize that addiction is a disease and not a choice. Addiction treatment involves multiple levels of care ranging from detox and inpatient/residential treatment to different levels of outpatient care. It involves a team of addiction professionals who specialize in different behavioral therapies, medication management, and a knowledge of underlying trauma and mental health disorders. AKUA Mind and Body is a full-service addiction and mental health treatment center with multiple locations across California. We specialize in treating individuals struggling with mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders. We offer detoxification, medication-assisted treatment, and behavioral therapy approaches at all levels of care, ranging from residential settings to outpatient treatment. We pride ourselves on having a compassionate and knowledgeable treatment staff who cares about each client and their family.