Celebrities with Drug Addictions

Today’s society often complains about the media attention that celebrities receive, yet celebrity lives are overexposed because of the public attention they receive.

Celebrity news involves the many make ups and break ups (and possible affairs) of celebrity relationships, as well as the pregnancies, the elaborate wardrobes, expensive purchases. Everything a celebrity does is 'captured' and shared with the world.

Many of these celebrity news topics are glamorized, and Americans soak it all up out of envy. "I wish I had a $10,000 pair of diamond encrusted shoes!"

While it is not positive behavior to probe into anybody's personal affairs, this is something that celebrities must endure regularly to maintain celebrity status. Some celebrities will go to drastic measures to attract media attention.

Celebrities must be a household name to 'stay alive' in a highly competitive market. Unfortunately, even celebrities are often unaware that the behaviors they use to 'remain a household name' are not as glamorous as the media makes it out to be.

Drug addiction is something that anybody can develop, and there is nothing glamorous about having a drug addiction. The media likes to glamorize celebrity drug addiction, but this is not something (like a pair of diamond encrusted heels) to be jealous of.

Celebrities with drug addictions receive the most media attention, especially females like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. A wild party girl will make headlines much longer than a healthy celebrity who does not continuously check in and out of rehab simply because it makes for more gossip.

Perhaps it is the media attention that leads celebrity drug addiction. Under a watchful eye, one would feel the need for 'an escape'. At the same time, one celebrity might feel encouraged to take drastic measures to get their name in the papers if they feel it is necessary.

In either case, nobody should be fooled by the misconception that there is anything glamorous and exciting about drug abuse. Drug abuse leads to drug addiction. The media attention that an attractive celebrity receives regarding their binge drinking may have an appeal, but real alcoholism is not sexy. A homeless person panhandling on the corner after having lost everything they had going for them at one point is not sexy, and that is what alcoholism or drug addiction can lead to.

Alcoholism and drug addiction can lead to worse things than homelessness, and some things can’t be overlooked by the media. Consider celebrity drug addictions that did not end with a rehabilitation or increased popularity. Consider Marilyn Monroe, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, and more recently Anna Nicole Smith.

It is very rare that an 'Average American' will choose to experiment with drugs simply because a celebrity does it. However, the media attention that celebrities with drug addictions attract does have an effect on the social views of drug abuse.

If you or somebody you know has a problem with drugs, you should seek help! It won't make you famous, but fighting your drug addiction and winning could save your life.