As everyone knows, we lost a legendary singer this year, Ms. Whitney Houston. Many people saw her struggle with drugs and alcohol, the many trips to the rehab centers, and her quest to stay clean, as well as her inability to do so. She joins a lengthy list of celebrities that have succumbed to the pressures that Hollywood and others have put on them to constantly work and keep themselves in the limelight. It seems as if there is outlet for these individuals and many of them resort to drugs and alcohol to ease the pain in their bodies and in their souls. Many people may not experience that feeling, so they do not understand why someone with lots of money, fame, and fortune would resort to drugs.
I also feel that the media plays a role in how celebrities deal with their sobriety. False accusations, bad photos, and eyewitness accounts shape and mold how famous people are portrayed to the masses and in turn, how the public sees those celebrities. This was evident with both Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson. They were vilified by the media, and as a result, they probably lost a lot of fans. These individuals put their bodies, hearts, and minds through so much to please the people, but then the people turn their backs on them. It has to be heartbreaking.
I hope and pray that other celebrities will not succumb to the disease called drug abuse, but it is not likely. The pressure put on them by their fans, the media, and their "demons" are contributing to the downfall and destruction of many talented people and it is disheartened. I am very concerned for Lindsey Lohan, DMX, Sean Young, and many others that are already driving on the same highway as Michael, Whitney, and many others that have crashed and burned on the same destructive path. Let's hope they can get off and back on track before they meet the same deadly fate.
