Commentary: No, Roseanne, you can’t blame Ambien for a lifetime of bigoted narrative

Responding to The Guardian (5.30.2018): Roseanne Barr blames racist tweet on sleeping pills

Granted, Ambien can be blamed for bizarre behavior. Nobody is denying that here at SHC.

Celebrities have been known to blame Ambien for their misbehavior. But while celebrities (and private citizens alike) may use the Ambien defense to get out of bad behavior, it doesn’t excuse the harm they bring upon others as a result.

After all, “DUI Ambien” is a criminal charge in some states. Behaviors while taking Ambien can kill people or, at the very least, land you in jail.

Roseanne Barr on Ambien

However, we’re talking about Roseanne Barr here. Barr’s life is a decades-long public chronicle of bigoted and unsavory behavior which she seems to take pride in.

By blaming Ambien for this latest misdeed, she brings upon herself the impossible task of proving that every single insult from her mouth also occurred while she was under the influence of Ambien.

Does that include her foul recitation of the National Anthem? The anti-transgender commentaries of the past? A quick survey of links to Roseanne’s racist comments (and the apologies that followed them) goes back to before the turn of the century.

(Nobody should be taking Ambien for decades, by the way.)

SHC feel’s pretty certain Barr can’t prove Ambien is to blame for her lifetime of bigoted narrative, so our position is this:

Barr’s behavior and commentary on the set at ABC studios was not connected to the drug’s side effects, but more logically connected to a lifetime of bigoted narrative she repeatedly apologizes for, time after time.

At any rate, the drug’s manufacturer, Sanofi, had this to say about Barr’s finger pointing:

“People of all races, religions and nationalities work at Sanofi every day to improve the lives of people around the world. While all pharmaceutical treatments have side effects, racism is not a known side effect of any Sanofi medication.”

Dear Roseanne, take personal responsibility. Your “blame Ambien while begging for forgiveness” option has expired.

—The curator

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4 posts at SHC that discuss Ambien use:

• YouTube takes on the use and abuse of the sleeping pill known as Ambien (zolpidem) (10.15.2017)
• What teens need to know about caffeine, smart drugs, sleeping pills and melatonin) (1.24.2016)
• If you have been taking Ambien (zolpidem) long-term (since before 2013), please read this (3.17.2015)
• Dr. Scott Theirl suggests biomarker testing before you take an Ambien (1.16.2015)