Amy Winehouse and rehabbing the stigma of substance abuse
I’d wager that Amy Winehouse fans – casual or otherwise – had a similar reaction to the 27-year-old singer and fashion muse’s death: tragic but not entirely unexpected. You’d only need to listen to a few tracks off her brilliant 2006 album Back to Black to know that Winehouse’s demons were the crux of her too-short existence.
Winehouse’s struggles with drugs, alcohol and mental illness became as much of a part of her identity as her black eyeliner and beehive hair. Her personal battles were relentlessly demonized in all-caps headlines splashed across the front page of tabloids and celebrity gossip websites.
We rolled our eyes when she was arrested – yet again – for drugs, assault or whatever trouble she found that day. We chuckled at yet another disastrous live performance caught on YouTube while quietly willing Back to Black producer Mark Ronson to dust her off and drag her into the studio for another round of that soulful, hip-hop-infused blues-rock we all craved – like in “Love is a losing game.”
Perhaps we owe it to Winehouse to take a step back and consider the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on our friends, families, neighbors, co-workers – and how these struggles are stigmatized by media and society. We run marathons for lymphoma, wear red for heart health and convince pro athletes to don pink cleats for breast-cancer awareness. What about depression? Eating disorders? Alcohol abuse?
We loved Winehouse for her unapologetic honesty and her take-no-prisoners attitude. But addiction and mental illness are far from easily conquered for even the strongest among us with a hearty support network. Now as we’re left to shudder when Rehab pops up on our playlists, let’s start reconsidering how we view substance abuse and mental illness before we lose another star, famous or otherwise.
–By Meg Wiegand
Share this:
- Tumblr
- More
Your comments are eloquent. Yes, absolutely, substance abuse is a disease that lacks the “popularity” of cancer or heart disease. It is a terrible, unforgiving disease. But with the added aspect that it is subject to moral disapproval.
I agree, Jenny. Stigmatisation of substance abuse is not new and people need to understand that substance abuse does not discriminate anyone according to social class, age, appearance and wealth.
Just saw a comerical last night with Huge Downs, who suffered(s) from depression. It is the only person, celeb, That I have ever seen get on TV and Say hey I am a person, a regular guy to most people who, regardless of success has struggled with feeling down, depressed and needed help to conquer it. There REALLY needs to be more awareness and support for those who struggle with “needing something to get through the day” whether it is a perscrition given by a Doctor or a drink, some made up concoction of crap that someone can buy on the streets, or even other behaviors that maybe physically destructive like “the over-doers”. This world is hard, it is rough, it is tough and we as a Human Being race are struggling everyday with knowing of horrors we have no way to help or prevent. Couple that with the fact that there is NO WAY to EVER have enough money to just pay what you owe for most people and the fear we are subjected to daily and it is a wonder we are not all one wild night away from being Amy, Heath, Jimmi, Janice, Marilyn or so many others who names never make a head line…..Great Post. I have been wondering what cause to back when I start my own foundation, and now I think you have given me the Best cause that fits in with the work I do. Have a wonderful week! AmberLena
I agree. Her story is truly tragic.
good post keep posting frnd thanks 4 sharing
I think Russell Brand hit the nail on the head.