Rock Stars: Turning to Sobriey

Today many artists are seeking rehabilitation when their lives become unmanageable and out of control due to the abuse of drugs and alcohol. We are seeing more and more famous musicians turn to AA and drug rehabilitation as an alternative to the chaotic life that the abuse of drugs and alcohol can bring. Artists are turning to the solution to their disease of addiction as opposed to partying until they end up dead, insane, or in jail. There is help to be found for famous musicians with addictions, and it is becoming popular for them to seek help and become a better person, instead of ruining one’s career due to “alcoholic” or “druggy” behavior. Fans and the public appreciate positive role models for their children, instead of chaotic addicts who can influence their kids to use drugs. Artists like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, and Jim Morrison (image at right), are a few examples of famous musicians who have died of drug overdose or drug related deaths. Now we have artists like Aerosmith, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ozzy Osbourne, Lindsay Lohan, Courtney Love, and Keith Urban, who are turning to AA in order to have a better life and career, and they are not ashamed to admit that they are addicts seeking recovery. I have posted comments at two different blogs pertaining to famous people, AA, and rehabilitation facilities. Please refer to the articles below to view these comments or click to their links directly.

Comment:
In response to your blog I would like to state that although Lindsay Lohan might still be partying as wildly as ever and wearing sobriety baubles, as you stated, she is at least trying to stay sober and attending AA meetings. Sometimes alcoholics and addicts take time to accept that they truly have a problem and it may take them a while to fully embrace the AA program. Not all people in recovery really understand the program of AA and turn their life completely around right away. Lindsay may continue to attend AA meetings and party at the same time, until one day she can truly stay sober. Each alcoholic and addict is different in their recovery and some take longer than others to really “get” the program. Addict musicians know that there is help for them and they are turning to healthy alternatives instead of continuing to live with the problem of addiction. I do agree with you that the rehab phenomenon is not a new trend in Hollywood, but I do think that famous people are not ashamed to admit they have a problem and seek help today-seeking help is more cool and accepted than dying as an addict.
TC

Comment:
In response to your blog and quote by Professor Boyarsky, I would like to state that it is not “bull” when someone checks into rehab or seeks help for their problems. Although a person’s motives for checking into a facility may not always be considered to be the right motives, they can still sometimes get the help that they need. If a famous person’s behavior is that bad, then there must be a reason for that inappropriate behavior and rehab may be the only answer at the time. While in rehab, even if it is only for a short time (as Bill Boyarsky stated in your blog), the person may experience a life changing event that they may not have experienced if they had not entered rehab. As you stated, Lindsey Lohan’s commitment to a rehab facility might be questioned because she is in and out of the facility. I like to state that at least she has entered a facility. She is seeking help and she may not be a perfect example of a recovering addict or alcoholic, but she is doing the right thing by checking into a facility. It may take her some time to achieve full sobriety and recovery.
TC