Celebrity Drug and Alcohol Addiction

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You only need to turn on the tv or glance at the cover of the latest entertainment magazine gracing the racks at the grocery store check-out to be able to keep up with the latest in celebrity addiction news. It seems like every week, there's another story about currently or formerly famous so-and-so who's just gotten a DUI, is entering rehab, or has completed rehab. It almost seems like going to rehab is the new in thing to do when you're a celebrity, as if a life of fame, riches, and partying will inevitably lead to a drug or alcohol addiction of some kind, and the next step is spending your riches to overcome that addiction. However, putting the media's glorification and obsession with celebrities and their substance abuse issues aside, the lesson one can learn from the deluge of celebrity addiction stories is that addiction can in fact affect anyone. No matter people's race, age, occupation, or general class status - and celebrities are in a class of their own - drug and alcohol addiction is a serious problem.

Celebrities Battling Addiction

Though we often glorify celebrities, it's evident that they battle the same addictions that normal people do. Some of the most mentioned celebrities battling drug addiction in the past couple of years include Amy Winehouse and Britney Spears, a duo of pop singers who have both become notorious for erratic, drug-induced moods and behaviors, and entering and leaving rehab more than once. Winehouse has been caught on camera smoking crack, is suffering from emphysema from smoking crack and cigarettes, and has had problems with alcohol, ecstasy, cocaine, and probably other drugs. Spears has undergone treatment at a drug rehab facility in Malibu for alcohol and drug problems. However, there have been many other instances of celebrity drug and alcohol addiction, both recently and in years past. Earlier in 2008, actor Heath Ledger died from a lethal mix of prescription drugs, bringing more attention to this growing substance abuse problem. Pop singer Fergie has been upfront about her past struggles with crystal meth, Lindsay Lohan has been frequently in the news about her drug and alcohol problems including a DUI and stints in rehab, and Anna Nicole Smith died from an overdose of sedatives and psychoactive drugs. The sobering (no pun intended) list of celebrities who have died from drugs or alcohol goes on and on - comedians John Belushi and Mitch Hedberg, from heroin and cocaine overdose, comedian Chris Farley from cocaine and morphine overdose, and rock and roll legends Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin who both died in 1970 from alcohol and barbiturate overdose and heroin overdose, respectively.

Mark Houston Recovery Treats Substance Abuse

While we are barraged with tales of celebrity battles with addiction, the moral of the story is that alcohol and drug addiction affects everyone. And so often, normal addiction recovery or treatment centers don't have long enough programs to fully address the issue of addiction. At Mark Houston Recovery, we have a minimum 90-day residential recovery program designed to help men work the 12 steps, learn the life skills necessary to succeed in the real world, and to replace drugs and alcohol with better habits like exercise, eating well, and developing a better spiritual awareness. Our doors are open to all males, including celebrities, who are willing and ready to begin a life of sobriety.