The recent passing of Dolly Parton—a woman whose music, acting, philanthropy, and irrepressible spirit earned her millions upon millions of fans—has led many people to listen to her records again as a tribute to and remembrance of her enormous talent.
Any Dolly Parton playlist would be incomplete without the inclusion of “9 to 5,” the theme to the 1980 comedy of the same name that starred Parton, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda. The movie—as the song suggests—is about sexism in the workplace. That is an essential topic, of course, but for our purposes here, we are going to use the chorus of Parton’s song to consider some notions about substance use disorders and recovery.
We should note here that the movie “9 to 5” features scenes involving alcohol and marijuana use. They are played for laughs, of course, but both substances can lead to the development of a substance use disorder, and we want to be clear that this post does not condone the use of either.
With that disclaimer in place, let’s take a look at the catchy chorus of Dolly Parton’s megahit song.
Workin’ 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin’
When you are struggling with a substance use disorder, it can feel as though supporting your dependency is your full-time job. In fact, 9 to 5 does not even fully cover the number of hours each day that a substance use disorder can gnaw at you.
But the notion that doing all that work is a good way to make a living—or live your life—certainly applies directly here. Dolly knows that the workaday world is unfair to many. Similarly, a substance use disorder is far from fair to the person struggling.
Barely gettin’ by, it’s all takin’ and no givin’
This is a sentiment a person using drugs or alcohol can almost certainly relate to. Sooner or later, the substances have chipped away at your mental and physical health to such an extent that you are barely getting by.
On top of that, whatever benefit you might have thought you were getting from drugs or alcohol is likely long gone. Now the substances take plenty and give back nothing.
They just use your mind and they never give you credit
It’s enough to drive you crazy if you let it
In the song, Dolly is referring to the ways in which bosses can benefit from the work of their employees—especially their female employees in the context of the movie—without sharing the credit.
In the context of a substance use disorder, however, these lines call out the way in which drugs or alcohol can undermine your mental wellbeing. And while we would not use the word “crazy” to describe a person’s mental state, it certainly is true that ongoing substance use can lead to the development of a mental health disorder.
9 to 5, for service and devotion
You would think that I would deserve a fair promotion
Want to move ahead, but the boss won’t seem to let me
I swear sometimes that man is out to get me, mm
When you are forced to keep using drugs or alcohol due to a substance use disorder and/or the rigors of withdrawal, it can feel as though everything you do is in service to the substances and of absolutely no benefit to you. Indeed, that can be far more than just a feeling; it can be your reality.
You may sincerely want to “move ahead” from drugs or alcohol to a life without them, but the substances themselves can be like an angry and unreasonable boss who blocks your efforts to move ahead. And there can be no doubt that longtime substance users can come to feel that the drugs are out to get them.
9 to 5, yeah, they got you where they want you
There’s a better life and you think about it, don’t you?
The second time through the chorus introduces a variation—one that asks an essential question. When you are in the grips of a substance use disorder, it is likely that you know there is a better life available—and you likely think about it and wish you could make it a reality.
We have already noted how hard that can be to do on your own due to the challenges of withdrawal. But just like the women in the movie do not take on their boss as individuals but as a team, you can find a team that will help you reach your goal of rebuilding your life for the better.
We Are Here to Help 24/7
Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, The Farley Center provides personalized treatment for substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders like depression, anxiety or panic, and issues grounded in past traumatic experiences. We offer medically supervised detoxification, a rehabilitation program designed with the intention of ensuring you have the resources and strategies to start your recovery journey with confidence, and an alumni program that keeps you connected to The Farley Center and others who have restarted their lives through our treatment program.
