Over the past few years, the media have been having a field day with the drug and alcohol problems (or, alleged drug and alcohol problems) of stars like Britney Spears, Amy Winehouse, Lindsay Lohan, and Tara Reid.
Fortunately, Spears seems to be making a comeback, Lohan defends she’s still “on the wagon,” and Tara Reid has just checked into the Promises Treatment Center according to her publicist. (Sadly, I don’t think Winehouse has such good news to report, but I do know the Shore Break Drug Rehab center supposedly offered its services to both Winehouse and her husband.)
From pictures of freshly-shaven heads to snarky commentary about the most recent party gone bad, when a celebrity displays some questionable behavior, you can expect both the media and the public to be all over it.
Shoot, you can probably expect to know about it before the even the celebrity’s family members do.
And, I blame both the media and the public. Most media sources are out to make money, so, naturally they’re gonna pony up what the public wants; however, they do have the power to, you know, not report every single drunken escapade. Rather than some garbage shot of a drunken celeb flipping off the camera, I’d much rather look at pictures of Wentworth Miller. Even if he’s just buying coffee. I haven’t seen any new ones since November 28.
I’m just saying.
Is hearing about a celebrity’s problems entertaining? Should I be excited to read about a fellow human being’s troubles with alcohol and substance abuse? It’d be different if the stories were sympathetic or showed some ounce of human compassion, but alas, that’s usually not the case.
I don’t have any firsthand experience with substance abuse (or dual diagnosis, which is often the case), but I do have firsthand experience with watching, almost helplessly, as someone I care a great deal about spiraled out of control for a very long time. It’s not entertaining - it’s devastating. It’s a dark, depressing, hopeless place to be.
And each troubled celebrity has at least one loved one out there going through that misery. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
I don’t expect the public to suddenly stop being interested in both the successes and failures of celebrities; however, wouldn’t it be nice if we all paused, for just a minute, and put ourselves in those shoes? Imagined what that celebrity must be going through to turn to drugs or alcohol? Fathomed how his or her family and friends must feel to have to watch a loved one self destruct?
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From Psych Central's Alicia Sparks:
» Lohan To Spears: YAY For You! - Celebrity Psychings (December 31, 2008)
I think some people feel better about themselves when they see the “shame” of someone else. Celebrity or neighbor. And isn’t it curious that people think addiction is shame rather than a serious health problem?
@ Dee - I wholeheartedly agree. I guess it’s kind of like that saying “misery loves company.” We all have our problems - whether they be related to our health, relationships, finances, etc. - and when we see others struggling (or, at least, not having “perfect” lives), we feel less isolated. Sometimes we can say things like, “Well, at least I’m not [insert some other problem].”
I wish people didn’t see addiction as “shameful.” It’s a health problem (and causes more health problems) like any other. I might post on that here soon.
I had to stop casually reading online celebrity rags because I was starting to get sickened by what I was reading and seeing. I dont see how I can feel better about myself by hearing about other peoples pain and misery. Compassion for other human beings is totally lost.
@ Carla - I know what you mean. When I was younger, I used to LOVE browsing magazines and surfing online for celebrity tidbits. These days, I certainly don’t spend money on magazines (ha) and if I happen to see something wild online, I don’t gasp like I used to - I just feel sad for them.
I wish people didn’t see addiction as “shameful.” It’s a health problem (and causes more health problems) like any other. I might post on that here soon.
I had to stop casually reading online celebrity rags because I was starting to get sickened by what I was reading and seeing.
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James
Substance Abuse Center
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