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The "Mysterious Darkness" in James Taylor's Family

Season 5 Episode 506
Aired on 11/29/2015 | CC tv-14
As a child, James Taylor and his four siblings grew up in a musical home with a brilliant father and encouraging mother. Despite his seemingly idyllic upbringing, James says there was always a "mysterious darkness" in his family tree.

"People argue about substance abuse and whether or not addiction is genetically predisposed, and I think it probably is. There's definitely that gene in my family," he says. "Whether it's nature or nurture, we tend to be addicted, and I lost my older brother to it. Alcoholism killed him."

During the late '60s and early '70s, James says his family faced a trying time. "My dad's drinking became an issue. ... I think that sort of came to a head, came to a crisis, in the late '60s. My folks broke up," he says. "I don't know what sent the Taylor siblings into such a tailspin, but three of us ended up in psychiatric hospital."

Around this time, James also tried heroin for the first time. "As soon as I was introduced to opiates, I was gone," he says. "The main thing I would say about it is avoid an addiction. That means, if you like something an awful lot and it's an addictive substance, you know, run like hell."

In the above video, watch as James reveals more about addiction and depression.

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