Everybody is addicted to something; addiction is a disease that does not discriminate. According to the latest research done by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 22.7 million Americans require treatment for certain drug and substance addictions (Patterson).Addiction surely does not discriminate and for years celebrities have fallen prey to drug and substance abuse. In spite of the status, fame and fortune addiction plays a very fair game and this is evident in the very common reports of famous celebrities who have publically struggled with drug and substance addictions, others even experiencing a public relapse (Patterson). For years now, celebrities have been making headlines for drug-fueled lifestyles, inappropriate behavior and even public meltdowns while under the influence. Many celebrities have publically struggled with drug and substance addictions, some even culminating in tragic yet very preventable endings (Patterson).For celebrities, the addiction is easier as they have the money and can easily access the drugs as opposed to the average person.
Taking a quick scan through history, there are a number of notable celebrities who have fallen prey of drug addictions. Surprisingly, some of the “brightest minds of history” were drug addicts for instance Sigmund Freud who greatly contributed to the social sciences discipline was a cocaine addict (Patterson). With the different choice of drugs to choice from, celebrities have a wider choice of addictions. Some of the commonly abused drugs by celebrities include; alcohol, barbiturates, cocaine, methamphetamines, and psychedelics. One of the most common reasons as to why celebrities get addicted to drugs is the pressure of the entertainment industry. Most celebrities want to always remain at the top, have the best performances and to never be forgotten. As a result of these pressures they abuse drugs to fight depression and enhance their intellectual pursuits (Patterson). However, trying to keep up with the fame, they end up enslaved in the drugs for a lifetime. Drug addiction has claimed the lives of very many talented young people through the years. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Whitney Houston, Andy Irons, John Belushi, Robin Williams, Michael Jackson, and Marilyn Monroe are some of the celebrity faces whose deaths were caused by drug addictions (Patterson).
Bio-psycho-ocial Effects
Drug addiction refers to the repeated and obsessive use of harmful amounts of drugs and the effect of withdrawal symptoms when not using the drugs (Tracy). Drug addiction comes with an array of physical, psychological and social effects. The psychological effects of drug addiction are the first side effects experienced when abusing drugs. Celebrities start using drugs for simple reasons such as stress and pain. With time, a cycle is created where they feel the need to use the drugs whenever they encounter pain or stress (Tracy).This cycle creates a constant craving for the drugs which is accompanied by other effects such as depression, paranoia, anxiety, wild mood swings, hallucinations, confusion, complication of mental illness, a reduction in pleasure in the everyday life, a desire to engage in risk behavior, and a psychological tolerance to the effects of the drugs (Tracy).Every drug has different physical effects however some of the effects cut across all the drugs. Some of the physical effects include; kidney and liver damages, brain damage, strokes, seizures, hart attacks, irregular heart rates, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, changes in appetite, irregular sleeping patters, and susceptibility to other minor illnesses (Tracy). Socially, drug addictions result in effects that spill over to other people. For celebrities this has far reaching consequences as it affects their families, fans and careers (Tracy).For instance Whitney Houston had to take a break off her music career because her crack addiction had affected her voice almost rendering her career useless. Socially, drug addiction has resulted in broken marriages, financial crisis and ending of most careers as the drugs render them useless (Tracy).
Treatment Recommendations
Getting an addiction under control requires a lengthy and supportive network. Drug addictions can quickly consume the lives of other people without hesitation. Treatment recommendations to address long term drug addiction are very important to curb this menace early enough. As opposed to what most people think, drug addiction may be complex as it affects the brain but it is a treatable disease (NIDA). Drugs alter the normal functioning of the brain leading to effects that persist for long even after the drugs are withdrawn. For this reason it is easier for celebrities to experience a relapse even after long periods of drug abstinence. Since drug addiction is rather complex as it affects people differently no single treatment procedure is appropriate, medics should offer varying treatment techniques depending on the nature of the addiction (NIDA). Treatments also need to be readily available because most celebrities have lost their lives because of the longer periods before getting treatments. Rehabilitation facilities should monitor the victims for a long time and not just three months (NIDA). Even though, being in the rehabilitation centers interferes with their careers it is important that they get the right treatments and only get released once they are in good shape. Behavioral therapies from close family members and friends are a very important step to curb addiction.
In conclusion, celebrity drug addiction is an issue that has been in the society for quite some time now. This menace cannot be gone overnight, however with joint efforts and sensitization of the public it may soon be a thing of the past. Losing young talented minds as a result of drug addiction is very sad yet very preventable. We are all addicted to something, however, we should not let our worlds be trapped by things we have control over.
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Works Cited
Patterson, Eric. Famous Drug Abusers. N.p., 2015. Web. 1 Sept. 2016.
Tracy, Natasha. Effects of Drug Addiction (Physical and Psychological). N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Sept. 2016.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. Principles of Effective Treatment. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Sept. 2016.
