Are celebrities more prone to addiction than the rest of us normal people? Experts do not think so.
Addiction experts say it's a misleading assumption that celebs are more prone to addictive behavior, because anyone can inherit that DNA. In reality, addiction does not discriminate, it cuts across all socioeconomic classes. This is the 3rd part of my series on celebrity drug use and abuse. You can also read Part 1 and Part 2.
What actors, singers, athletes, even CEOs have that regular people might not have is more access to drugs, more time to indulge, more money to pay for it, and often a horde of enabling hangers-on who are financially dependent on them and thus more motivated to supply substances for them.
Guns N’ Roses Victim
Those of you who know their Guns N’ Roses remember original bassist for the band Duff McKagan. He lived the rock and roll lifestyle along with the rest of the band. Like at least one other band mate, Axl Rose, McKagan almost died from his complete abuse of drugs.
A longtime drug and alcohol addict nearly died from an exploding pancreas in 1994 at age 30. This, along with his mother weeping in her wheelchair over her youngest child, and his eventual discovery of the physical and spiritual strengths of martial arts also helped him overcome his addiction.
So far, McKagan is a success story. Hopefully he can maintain his sobriety and work toward keeping youngsters from ever trying drugs.