Celebrity Drug Addiction – Amy Winehouse's Ongoing Struggle

Amy Winehouse is back in the news again after being videotaped on January 24 in her London home smoking what appears to be a crack pipe and the footage being leaked on the internet. Just minutes after hitting the pipe, she commented to the camera that she had just taken about 6 pills of the anti-anxiety drug Valium. After this footage was made public, her record label, management, as well as family had a very serious talk with her about her behavior, and she has come to understand that she requires Drug Treatment. Winehouse has been nominated for six Grammys, including song of the year, and record of the year. Consequently, she has been denied a visa to enter the United States by the American Embassy in London, and will not be allowed to perform at the Grammys.

The American embassy stated that Amy has been progressing well since being admitted into the Drug Treatment Facility two weeks ago, and although disappointed with the decision, she has accepted the ruling and will be concentrating on her recovery. The Embassy says Amy has been treated well and fairly by the Embassy, and they thank everyone for their support, and assure there will be other opportunities for Amy to visit the States.

Amy Winehouse is another classic example of the destructive life paths many celebrities choose once they become famous. Amy’s notoriety has equally stemmed from her singing abilities, as it has from her ludicrous behavior and near fatal drug binges in the publics eye. Its too often that Amy is printed in the news battered and bruised, covered in blood and high as a kite for the whole world to see. These newspapers are cashing in on her affliction.

Winehouse has become famous for her battles with addiction and her hit song “Rehab” describes her reluctance to enter a Drug Treatment Program. The disease of addiction is mentally, physically, and spiritually debilitating and in many cases ultimately fatal. Amy’s life as she knows it has been compromised by her addiction, and is at risk of losing everything. What Amy would truly benefit from is Medically Supervised Detoxification, as well as a lengthy stint in a Inpatient Drug Treatment Facility. By going through Detox, all of the toxic chemicals and byproducts will slowly be removed from her body, while under close medical supervision. Only after her body has rid itself of these substances can true recovery begin.

Inpatient Drug Treatment would provide Amy with the supervision and support she needs to stay off drugs and learn the skills necessary to stay sober. There is no question she leads a very stressful life, but the skills taught in relapse prevention, as well as basic life skills coaching workshops would benefit her greatly.

Amy’s life has been riddled with various run-ins with the law, as well as embarrassing tabloid articles publicizing her reckless behavior. In October of 2007, Winehouse and her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, were arrested at a Norwegian hotel for marijuana possession, and soon afterwards fans booed her off stage as she slurred and stumbled her way through her set. In December of 2007, tabloids published pictures of Winehouse with a mystery white powder in her nose. “She is reluctant to go to rehab voluntarily, and if she does, she will only stay for a week or two then go back to her death-wishing ways,” says her dad Mitch Winehouse.

Since her latest admittance to a Drug Rehabilitation Facility, she is reported to be suffering from an irregular heartbeat, coughing up blood, and may have a lung infection or tuberculosis. Amy’s rampant drug binges have made caused us to ask: Will the young singer embrace recovery from her affliction, or will she, like many talented artists before her, sadly leave the world before her potential is fulfilled?