How many musicians have to die from substance abuse before a more concerned effort is made to keeping them off of drugs and alcohol?
Treating musicians with substance abuse issues is among the goals of MusiCares, according to the LA Times. Realistically, however, no one can force troubled artists to get help.
Whitney Houston’s death last month on the eve of the Grammy awards still has fans and the music industry reeling, but it holds an extra measure of resonance to those whose primary mission is helping struggling musicians put their lives back on track.
The Irony
The singer's death at age 48 came just a few hours after the closing notes of the Recording Academy's MusiCares Person of the Year tribute in Los Angeles, the major fundraiser for the organization's foundation created more than two decades ago to help musicians in need — many of them like Houston wrestling with substance or alcohol abuse issues.
Though the cause of Houston's death is still under investigation, one of the many questions prompted by it and the passing of pop stars as varied as Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley is this: If celebrities who have access to every resource available can't get help, what hope is there for the majority of people who haven't experienced the smallest fraction of their success?
The fact is you can't reach an addict when he's not ready. I've been through the struggle. To an alcoholic, I like to think it's a self-diagnosed disease: Nobody can tell you you're an alcoholic until you tell yourself.
Who Can Help the Stars?
Music industry veterans who've dealt closely with issues stemming from substance abuse say that though stars may be able to afford the highest quality treatment options out there, their fame and fortune can also can leave them more isolated from the tools they need to overcome their addictions. As a result, celebrities may frequently find themselves in the position of choosing, or being pressured, to continue self-destructive habits just to keep career momentum.
Many longtime associates of Jackson and Presley complained about being unable, in the stars' final years, to penetrate the circle of handlers they'd surrounded themselves with.
MusiCares provides "safe harbor" rooms at various special events where musicians in recovery can go to avoid relapsing. There also is a growing contingent of "sober companions," whose job is to look out for their clients' sobriety in the face of the many temptations surrounding them.
There are successes, but those stories usually don't generate nearly as much attention as the high-profile failures.
If Houston's death contributes to a broader understanding of addiction and substance abuse, her legacy might include more than the million-selling recordings she left behind.
Addiction can affect anyone. No human being is immune to addiction issues if they use drugs or alcohol. If you or someone you care about may have a drug or alcohol problem, please seek help immediately. There are also online drug classes.