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Co-occurring disorders (COD), the intersection of mental health challenges and substance use issues, are brought into sharp focus following the revelation of rapper Juice Wrld‘s cause of death. The artist, known for his poignant lyrics addressing anxiety and depression, tragically died at 21 from an accidental overdose. This incident underscores the critical realities of COD, a focus of The Missing Issue, a special edition by Us Weekly in partnership with the harris project, a nonprofit combating COD.
Rapper Juice Wrld’s Overdose Death Highlights Co-Occurring Disorders
Jarad Anthony Higgins, globally recognized as hip-hop artist Juice Wrld, passed away on December 8, 2019, at the young age of 21. The cause of death was determined to be an accidental overdose due to oxycodone and codeine toxicity. Throughout his burgeoning career, Higgins’ music openly addressed his personal battles with anxiety and depression. His lyrics provided insight into the connection between his mental health struggles and substance abuse, clinically termed co-occurring disorders.
Lyrics Reflected Mental Health and Substance Use Struggle
Juice Wrld’s songs frequently explored the complexities of co-occurring disorders. In “Anxiety,” he rapped, “Anxiety is bad for the soul / Pills and anxiety, they take control.” His breakout hit, “Lucid Dreams,” further revealed his reliance on substances: “I take prescriptions to make me feel a-okay / I know it’s all in my head.”
In a 2018 No Jumper interview, Higgins discussed how substance use could “open doors to feel emotions you probably wouldn’t feel,” but concurrently warned of its destructive potential: “[It] can destroy you — utterly destroy you.”
Navigating the Stigma of Mental Health
During a 2019 Billboard interview, Higgins spoke candidly about the pervasive stigma surrounding mental health issues, particularly within the Black community. “Speaking [as] an African-American man, I know that that stuff is neglected in our community,” he stated. He elaborated on the dismissive reactions often faced when discussing these issues: “You tell your momma, your daddy, your auntie, whoever that you feel like [you] get anxiety, you feel like you have depression, you feel like you got ADD, whatever, they’re gonna look at you like you’re crazy… That’s not how it should be, but that’s how it is. And that needs to change. I feel like I’m one of those people that can bring that change, or at least start a chain reaction for somebody else to come and do it after me.”
Desire for Recovery and Improved Well-being
Higgins’ substance use began heavily with Xanax during high school. However, in the years leading up to his death, he expressed a desire to mitigate his drug use. “I smoke weed, and every now and then I slip up and do something that’s poor judgment,” he admitted to The New York Times in July 2018. “I have a lot going for me, I recognize it’s a lot of big things, a lot of big looks. I want to be there, and you don’t have to overdose to not be there.”
The Missing Issue, focusing on co-occurring disorders, is available for purchase at https://magazineshop.us/harrisproject.
If you or someone you know is grappling with mental health and/or substance use, remember you are not alone. Immediate support is available: Dial 911 for urgent medical needs; 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; or 1-800-662-HELP for the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) National Helpline. Naloxone (Narcan) is a vital tool to reverse an opioid overdose.
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