The Plague of Celebrity Drug Scandals

Celebrity drug scandals always seem to be in the news, and especially so, when the news of an arrest or death overdose appears in the headlines.  The truth of the matter is that behind the veil of their public relations team and agent, a celebrity who is an abuser feels the same anguish and pain just like any other person suffering from an addiction.

Drug trends among the famous are parallel to what’s popular in the nation which includes alcohol, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and prescription drugs.

Oftentimes, people just don’t understand why celebrities would allow drugs or alcohol to ruin their career or lives.  After all, these famous people have everything.

While it’s important not to generalize celebrities or anyone in a particular career, research studies have been done in the past to determine why some celebrities were more at risk for addiction.

Findings suggest it was their “personality traits,” which made them more inclined to fall in to this category.  This group was generally more extroverted and outgoing and may have sensitive egos in terms of how their fans view them.  This type of inner insecurity may also trigger alcohol or drug abuse

Their charismatic appearances, however, may also differ greatly from what is going on in their “behind closed door” reality.  The pressures of achieving fame and keeping it are constant such as obtaining a great part, keep up a fast pace, as well as looking their very best.

CELEBRITY DRUGS SCANDAL

If their last film, television show, or recording wasn’t a success, this type of failure can be detrimental to their career. Like people in other stressful professions, celebrities may very well turn to alcohol or drugs to numb the pain or the pressure.

Along with these personality traits are the riches. Socializing in different circles, they may be influenced by other famous people who are alcohol and drug abusers. This type of lifestyle may produce situations where drugs are more readily available. In many ways, this type of fame may come with a serious cost.

Celebrities often admit themselves to private facilities for addiction treatment. Depending on their specific needs they may choose:

• In-patient rehabilitation
• Out-patient rehabilitation
• Behavioral counseling
• Drug counseling
• A combination or all of the above

While some celebrities have kept their addictions private, others have been very open about it. Stars that have been candid about their addictions and sobriety goals, in many ways, have been inspirational to those who are going through the same struggles.

On the flipside, for those who have been in trouble with the law because of drugs and alcohol abuse, some professionals wonder if the paparazzi attention may be partly to blame for relapses. The constant negative tabloid attention may be ill-affecting to celebrities by setting them up for failure with such self-destructive media coverage.

Sadly, there are superstars that either relapsed and/or did not get the necessary rehabilitation treatment they needed. Celebs such as Jim Belushi, Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, Chris Farley, and academy award winner, Philip Seymour Hoffman are in this group.

Those with fame and riches need the same type of rehabilitation just like non-celebrities do.  An abuser needs to realize there is help out there and be fully committed to the rehabilitation journey.