I know guys are not supposed to admit this but I think Whitney Houston’s music is beautiful. She possessed one of the greatest voices I have ever heard. She could carry a note alongside any great opera singer.

In the end, unfortunately, Whitney became just another Hollywood drug tragedy.

Drowns in Bathtub

Houston drowned alone in a bathtub having accidentally overdosed on a cocktail of prescription drugs and alcohol after two back-to-back evenings of out-of-control binges.

The star was found dead by her bodyguard in a luxury hotel suite said to have been littered with bottles of prescription pills. She was 48.

Paramedics battled to revive the singer but she was pronounced dead at 3.55pm yesterday afternoon, hours before she had been due to perform at a pre-Grammys party at the Beverly Hills Hilton in Los Angeles.

Bottles of Lorazepam, Valium, Xanax and a sleeping medication were found in the hotel room. The drugs were believed to have acted as sedatives, causing her to fall asleep in the bathtub once they had been mixed with alcohol from the previous evenings.

As police look into the possibility that the star died from an accidental overdose, there are expected to be emotional scenes at the Grammy awards tonight with many of the singers inspired by Miss Houston dedicating their awards to her.

Addiction to Crack Cocaine

Houston had battled ravaging addictions to crack cocaine over the years but the drug is not believed to have played a part in her death.

Her frantic daughter Bobbi Kristina, 19, is understood to have got into a 'furious screaming argument' with authorities who refused to let her into the hotel room to see the body of her dead mother.

Houston's body remained at the hotel today where her family, including her daughter were paying their last respects. Last night around 800 guests attended a pre-Grammys dinner at the hotel where Miss Houston died.

Outside, fans gathered to mourn the star, leaving floral tributes and lighting candles.

It is not known if the destructive spiral played a part in death of the I Will Always Love You singer who had spent more than a decade battling an addiction to crack cocaine since rising to international stardom in the early 90s.

As the singer's body lay on the fourth floor, stars including Britney Spears, Tony Bennett and Kim Kardashian were taking part in the pre-Grammy Awards party at the hotel.

News of the death brought a string of public tributes from the music industry today. Simon Cowell said Houston was a 'true diva' with 'one of the best voices I have heard in my life ever'.

Rihanna tweeted that she was 'in tears' while Mariah Carey said that she was 'heartbroken' over the loss of her friend.

Her ex-husband Bobby Brown - whom Houston blamed partly for her drug issues - was said to be 'in and out of crying fits' upon hearing the news - but still appeared on stage on Saturday with his band New Edition, and cried out 'I love you, Whitney!' in the middle of the concert.

Singer Johnny Gill, one of Brown's New Edition bandmates, is on tour in Memphis with the star. ‘Bobby is struggling and he's devastated,’ he told CNN.

Houston won six Grammy awards, two Emmys, 30 Billboard Music Awards, and 22 American Music Awards, among others awards.

But the star's life had spiraled downhill since her early hits. She suffered a long battle with drugs, including cocaine, as well as alcohol and spent various spells in rehab.

Recent appearances had become increasingly erratic and the years of substance abuse had clearly taken a toll.

Her powerful voice began to suffer because of her demons prompting record sales to nosedive and in 2007 she split from husband Bobby Brown after 15 years of marriage.

Drugs are evil. They never create, they only destroy.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

When news of the split between Hollywood stars Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore broke, I am sure I am like many of you who believed Kutcher was probably to blame. It certainly did not help matters that rumors of his serial adultery were circulating everywhere.

Moore was rushed to the hospital after an ambulance was called to her Beverly Hills home. The actress is reportedly being treated for exhaustion.

While her rep’s maintain that Moore is being treated for “exhaustion,” other rumors are flying that the extremely thin Moore may be dealing with anorexia, as well as drug abuse problems. There are reports that Moore was in the midst of an epileptic seizure when the ambulance was called.

In the wake of her medical treatment, it has also been confirmed that Moore will be pulling out of her latest film project ‘Lovelace,’ which is a biopic about the pornstar Linda Lovelace. Moore was set to play feminist activist Gloria Steinem.

Moore made headlines back in November when she announced she would be separating from Kutcher, her husband of six. While the two have officially separated, divorce papers have yet to be filed.

Obviously not under extreme stress or exhaustion, Kutcher was spotted in Sao Paolo, Brazil during the week partying it up at a Bruno Mars concert. 

Another sad case of a celebrity most-likely addicted to chemical substances. I would hope counseling with a good drug class might help Moore get sober and stay that way.

Ah, the perfect Hollywood couple. That is what everyone was thinking when Russell Brand and Katy Perry tied the know a few years back. Of course that is not true. Most gossip pundits predicted a short marriage.

At least Brand and Perry lasted eons longer than Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries.

When the press leaked the story that Brand was divorcing his 27-year-old wife it made you wonder what could possibly be the problem. According to Celebrity Dirty Laundry, it turns out that Brand, a recovering drug addict and alcoholic could not handle his wife’s substance abuse issues.

Brand has a long and sordid history of substance abuse and has only been clean for a relatively short period of time. His sobriety is something that he values above all else and guards with all of his might. Now the Mirror has revealed that Perry‘s hard-partying lifestyle, and her refusal to settle down and have a family, are what forced Russell to file for divorce.

I think Brand made the right call. His wife has to be aware of her husband’s vulnerability. It is hard to imagine Brand as the responsible sober type, but it appears that is what he is.

Their 1 year and 2 month marriage was a roller coaster ride of huge fights with Brand trying to get Perry to stay off drugs and alcohol.

After a huge fight before the holidays, Perry chose alcohol and drugs over a sober life with a loving husband. As part of his recovery Brand, 36, is smart enough to know he can't just go out and party in Hollywood.

Hopefully, Perry will mature and quit taking drugs and abusing booze. Perhaps a good online alcohol or drug class is a place to start.

Celebrities and drugs go hand-in-hand. It is an unfortunate reality but adolescents with an inordinate amount of money and access to drugs they often make the poor decision. Such is the case with Disney star Demi Lovato.

These past few years were not easy on Lovato. Back in October 2010, Lovato left her music tour and entered rehab for what her camp cited then as emotional and physical issues.

Her rep released a statement at the time, "Demi has decided to take personal responsibility for her actions… she is doing just that."

Lovato was not seeking treatment for substance abuse but for self-injury and an eating disorder. 

In February's issue of Seventeen magazine, Lovato tells the explicit truth behind her emotional breakdown and rehab stay in a shocking interview. Lovato admits to drug and alcohol abuse for the first time and stays she was suffering emotionally. 

"I'm not gonna lie. I was self-medicating. I was doing things like drinking and using [drugs], like a lot of teens do to numb their pain."

This is the first public admission of substance abuse from the 19-year-old Sonny with a Chance star. Previous reports of Lovato's alleged cocaine use surfaced around the time she entered rehab. Life and Style claimed they spoke with eyewitnesses who saw Lovato use cocaine and alcohol while in Texas in December 2009. 

Lovato checked out of rehab in late January 2011. Since she left treatment, Lovato has been extremely vocal about her struggles and desire to be emotionally and physically healthy.

Demi Lovato is extremely grateful to those who supported her decision to enter treatment. Demi explains she and good friend Miley Cyrus hit some rough patches during Lovato's recovery process but remain close. Best-friend Selena Gomez has always stuck by her side. 

Hopefully Lovato has learned from her past poor choices and will stay clean and sober the rest of the way. Seeking help and getting sober was a great first step.

The lives of celebrities are an open book. Every move they make is followed and scrutinized by paparazzi and the public. Celebrities know this and accept it as a part of their profession. Unfortunately for their progeny, they too find themselves under surveillance. Oftentimes, their “growing pains” become fodder for public conversation. Thus is the case of Michael Douglas’ son.

Cameron Douglas, the son of Academy Award winner Michael Douglas who is serving a five-year sentence for drug dealing, was just sentenced to an additional four and a half years in prison.

The judge in his legal reasoning said: "I don't believe that I have had another case ever... of a defendant who has so recklessly, and flagrantly, and wantonly and criminally acted in as destructive and manipulative a fashion." I hear you judge, but I guess you don't know what drug relapse is about.

What good is it to serve an admitted addict with additional time in prison which is costing the taxpayer a ton of dough to make a point? We know Cameron is a fuck up. It's apparent after all the blundering and idiotic bad moves he has made.

But in reality, is an additional four and a half years -- two and a half more than the government sought to punish Cameron for his crime of addiction -- worth it? Substance abuse is a disease, which unfortunately doesn't go away overnight. I know that Douglas pissed off the judge but Berman should realize that our drug policies fail to account for the fact that drug use is a health issue and that relapse is an expected part of the recovery process.

At the recent U.S. Conference of Mayors' annual meeting in Baltimore, it was pointed out that the U.S. has by far the highest incarceration rate in the world. It has 2.4 million of its residents in prison or jail, including roughly 500,000 Americans behind bars for drug law violations -- an increase of 1200 percent since 1980. Criminal justice experts attribute the exploding U.S. prison population to harsh sentencing laws and record numbers of drug law offenders, many of whom have substance abuse problems.

Should we treat drug addiction as a criminal matter or a medical problem? For most people, treatment is much more effective than incarceration for breaking their addictions, yet our prisons are full of drug-addicted individuals. Nonviolent drug offenders should be given an opportunity to receive treatment, not jail time, for their drug use. This would be a more effective and a much more affordable solution for the individual and the community.

Prison is a horrible place and until he accepts responsibility for his actions, Douglas will forever be a prisoner to his drug addiction. What do you think?

“Sweetness” was one of the greatest running backs of all-time. Many would argue, the greatest! Of course Sweetness was better known as Walter Payton, a man who led the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl title in 1985.

Let’s begin by saying there is a hidden side to everyone. Some are certainly darker sides than others. But did Sweetness have a drug problem?

A new book about Payton, the Bears’ legendary Hall of Famer, reveals a controversial, private side of the running back and has drawn criticism from his family.

In “Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton,” Jeff Pearlman chronicles Payton’s life from his childhood in Mississippi and battle with a rare liver disease and death from bile duct cancer in 1999.

Excerpts in Sports Illustrated relate tales of Payton’s extramarital affairs, including a scene in Canton, Ohio, when Payton took both his wife and girlfriend to his Hall of Fame induction. Payton, Pearlman writes in detail, battled depression and was addicted to painkillers during his playing career and afterward.

My memory will always be of Sweetness bursting through a seam and scampering for a touchdown. Of course I was pretty young and he was an idol. Like all professional athletes and celebrities, it is important that none of see them as role models.

Musicians are certainly vulnerable to the virulent talons of drugs and alcohol. Drugs have ruined the life of another great musician. Sly Stone, the leader of popular 60s and 70s R&B Group Sly and the Family Stone is well known for his hit songs “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” and “Hot Fun in the Summertime” and now we’ve learned that despite his celebrity he’s penniless and living in a van.

Four years ago the singer had a home with its own vineyard and now it’s being reported that he is fed once a day by a retired couple who also allow him to use their shower.

Sly’s situation went downhill due to over spending, mismanagement of his funds and a substance abuse problem.

How bad is Sly? Today, Sly is disheveled and paranoid, claiming the FBI is after him and his enemies have hired hit men. He refuses to let The Post into his camper, but, ever the showman, poses flamboyantly with a silver military helmet and a Taser in front of his Studebaker.

Sly says his troubles began in 2009 when he lost all of his royalty payments after feuding with manager Jerry Goldstein, Sly says he was tricked into giving Goldstein control of his finances in 1989 which in turn provided him with a weekly paycheck.

In 2010 Stone filed a $50 million lawsuit against Goldstein, in his suit Sly claims fraud and 20 years of stolen royalty payments. Making matters worse in 1984 Slone made the foolish decision to sell his publishing catalog to Michael Jackson for just $1 million.

Sly Stone is currently recording new music in his van and is begging anyone from the record industry to listen with no-strings attached. It pains my heart to see such talent wasted.

It seems like everything is reaching epidemic proportions in this country.  From alcohol and drug abuse to theft, our nation is bound by negative addictions.  One of the most serious, and seemingly legal, is the overconsumption of prescription drugs.

Is it me, or does it seem like more and more doctors are doing less work, instead just providing a prescription medication?  Of course there is the huge case pending right now against Dr Conrad Murray in the death of pop star and icon Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson’s Former MD Could Lead to Changes

Dr. Conrad Murray is currently facing trial for involuntary manslaughter for administering a powerful anesthetic that led to the death of Michael Jackson. 

Murray is part of a growing trend of doctors who are criminally prosecuted for medical malpractice. 

Prescription Malpractice?

Let me begin by saying I hate frivolous lawsuits and I hate that doctors are so susceptible to medical malpractice lawsuits by disgruntled patients whose claims have zero merit.

Here is a little history on medical malpractice lawsuits.  From 1809 (yes when one of our Founding Fathers – James Madison was President through the year 2000 fewer than 40 doctors faced criminal charges for malpractice.  Since 2001, there have been at least 37 cases – almost as many as in the previous 200 years!

Controlled Substances Act of 1970

The majority of the cases since 2001 involved doctors who have overprescribed prescription painkillers other controlled substances.  Many doctors have been charged under the Controlled Substance Act of 1970, which allows prosecution of physicians who knowingly prescribe medication outside the usual course of professional practice or for non-medical purposes.

Anna Nicole Smith’s Doctor Sued

Prior to the case of Dr. Murray, the most famous prosecution of a doctor involved the death of model and reality TV star Anna Nicole Smith.  Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, Smith’s doctor, was charged with supplying the celebrity with dangerous prescription drugs that eventually led to her death. 

Kapoor was acquitted of the charges against him when the prosecution failed to prove that Kapoor prescribed drugs without a medical purpose.

The case of Conrad Murray is unusual because he administered an anesthetic to Michael Jackson rather than a controlled prescription drug.  In addition to criminal charges, Murray is also facing a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Michael Jackson’s father.  The majority of medical malpractice cases are tried in civil rather than criminal courts.

Prescription Machine

In Southern California, Dr. Al Bussum is facing charges of illegal distribution of prescription drugs after he wrote more than 60,000 prescriptions between 2007 and 2010, and Dr. Tyron Reece is charged with dispensing more than 900,000 prescription pills in 2010 alone.

Dr. Conrad Murray’s lawyer has stated that doctors who are legitimately trying to help their patients should not be lumped together with these doctors who run prescription drug “pill mills.” Los Angeles Coroner Dr. Christopher Rogers would probably disagree with this statement since he has stated that Murray’s treatment of Michael Jackson was substandard and resulted in the pop stars death.

Don’t get me wrong – I am all for prescription medication – when it is necessary.  We all know the difference between use and abuse.  

I want to begin this by saying I am a dead centrist in my political views. As a God-loving man, I certainly lean toward conservative moral values, however, I certainly stand on the left side of the fence more than occasionally. Therefore, know that this is not just a bash on former Vice-Presidential candidate Palin or her fellow conservatives, Tea Partiers and whatnot!

Snowballin’ While Snowmobiling

I am sure you have heard about the latest Palin biography, “The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin.” Written by a total oddball, and well, let’s face it – creepy Joe McGinniss, it paints a less than flattering picture about the personal and social habits of the potential presidential candidate.

Now keep in mind these actions are only alleged, but McGinniss put his claims in writing and I would bet where there is smoke there is fire, and dollar-to-donuts Palin committed the acts alleged in the book.

The most outrageous claim as it relates to drug use is that Sarah snorted cocaine off a 55-gallon drum while snowmobiling. Another claim is that she smoked marijuana with a profession at Mat-Su College in Alaska.

McGinniss further claims that Palin and her husband, and perhaps even her children have a history of drug use.

Granted, these claims are coming from a man who moved in next door to the Palins. A little creepy, right?  All in all I have to say that I sincerely hope this woman never holds public office again – in any form. I would have hoped her 125 minutes of fame were up. If you read this Sarah, or Todd, I have a nice online drug awareness class I can recommend!

“Nails” is digging himself deeper and deeper. For baseball fans, the title of this blog combined with the lead tells you were are speaking of Lenny Dykstra, former Major League Baseball All-Star and World Series Champion.

He was called “Nails” because of his toughness. He played the game hard. But like many celebrities and professional athletes who have reached the pinnacle of success, Dykstra has fallen on hard times – and drugs and alcohol are partially to blame!

Real Class Act

Dykstra, who already is jailed on state and federal charges, pleaded not guilty today to indecent exposure for allegedly exposing himself to women who responded to online advertisements for a personal assistant or housekeeper.

Dykstra, 48, who owns a home in Encino, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure. The charges stem from a series of complaints—one from 2009, three from 2010 and more this year.

Craigslist

Dykstra allegedly placed advertisements on the Craigslist website in search of a personal assistant or housekeeper. When women came to his home in response to the ads, Dykstra told them the job required them to give him a massage, and he would expose himself.

If convicted of the misdemeanor charges, the former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder faces up to six months in jail and $1,000 in fines for each count.

Dykstra was ordered July 22 to stand trial on 25 criminal counts in state court, including grand theft auto, for allegedly trying to lease cars using phony business and credit information.

Dykstra remains jailed in lieu of $455,000 bail. He is also facing federal bankruptcy charges stemming from the alleged sale of property from his $18 million mansion in Ventura County.

The Charges Keep Piling On

In state court, Dykstra is charged with eight counts of filing false financial statements, five counts of attempted grand theft auto, four counts of identity theft and three counts each of grand theft auto and possession of a controlled substance – all felonies!

How about one more charge - he also faces one misdemeanor count each of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and unauthorized possession of a syringe.

If convicted in the felony case, he faces up to 12 years in state prison. With a long history of drugs and alcohol, it looks like Dykstra should seek help. Perhaps a good drug education class or alcohol awareness class, along with a online theft class could get him started on the path to redemption.