Introduction:
Mac Miller, Heath Ledger, Whitney Houston, Anna Nicole Smith, Michael Jackson…does these names ring a bell? Yes, all of these are famous names who are revered for their contribution to the world of entertainment. But that’s not the only similarity these artists seem to share. Ironically, all of these celebs succumbed to drug overdose and addiction issues.
It makes so many of us wonder, what is Hollywood’s problem? Hollywood’s relationship with drugs has become more toxic than Jutin Bieber’s relationship with Selena Gomez. No wonder, it kinda made sense when the rapper B.O.B summarized Hollywood’s addiction in four lines,
“’Cause after all the partyin’ and smashin’ and crashin’
And all the glitz and glam and the fashion
And all the pandemonium and all the madness
There comes a time where you fade to the blackness…”
Let’s find out who is to blame: the drugs or the celebrities?
I Love You. I Hate You. No Wait, I Love You…
Everytime another Hollywood celeb succumbs to drug abuse, and the eventual overdose, condolences start pouring in from all corners of the world. And there’s never enough talk about the ‘why’ behind the death. Is it because celebrities do not want to address the elephant in the room? Or is it because it is ‘eventual’ for all famous people?
Hollywood’s love-hate relationship with substances is almost historical. From the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley to the legendary Micahel Jackson, overdose is perhaps how legends prefer to say Goodbye in Hollywood.
Without wasting any further time, let’s check out the top celebrity deaths owing to addiction and overdose.
Michael Jackson:
The Thriller singer passed away in 2009 when he was only 50. The reason? He overdosed on benzodiazepine and propofol. Jackson had a long history or toxic lifestyle patterns and addiction habits. Perhaps seeking timely help for addiction recovery could have helped him in more ways than we know.
Heath Ledger:
One of the saddest blows that Hollywood had to digest was perhaps the death of the talented Heath Ledger. After delivering a power-packed performance in The Dark Knight, Ledger tragically passed away when he was only 28. The cause of death? He overdosed on a combination of hydrocodone, temazepam, doxylamine, oxycodone, and several other substances.
Janis Joplin:
Another musician who passed away while she was only 27. It is starting to seem like a trend at this point…isn’t it? The talented musician was found dead in her room and although alcohol was present, no drug was found initially. But on closer inspection and after several tests, it was found out that the musician died of heroin overdose.
Anna Nicole Smith:
Anna Nicole Smith was one of the top supermodels of her time but the world was not prepared for this one. After denying substance abuse rumors for years, it came as a shock when Smith was found unresponsive at a Casino in Florida. It was 2007 and the former supermodel was only 37. Later reports revealed substances like Chloral hydrate, Methadone, and three other drugs as the cause of death.
Elvis Presley:
The year was 1977 and the King of Rock and Roll was 42 when he was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor. An eye witness later commented, “Elvis looked as if his entire body had completely frozen in a seated position while using the toilet and then had fallen forward, in that fixed position, directly in front of it. … It was clear that, from the time whatever hit him to the moment he had landed on the floor, Elvis hadn’t moved”
Reading up on all the famous deaths in Hollywood, is drug overdose such a common cause of death? Experts even point out excess fame, money, and mental health troubles as the primary causes of these deaths. But what is it about fame that makes addicts out of artists?
Deducing Hollywood’s Love-Hate Relationship With Drugs:
One moment you are busy giving your Oscar-winning shot in front of the camera, and the next moment, you are at a glamorous party doing some coke. That’s perhaps a day in the life of every Hollywood celebrity. And there are several reasons behind the same. Let’s deduce what could be the top 3 possible reasons behind Hollywood’s unhealthy obsession with drugs.
A Dodgy Entry Into The 27’s Club:
The number of celebrities who have died at 27 because of drug overdose is uncanny. From Mac Miller to Kurt Cobain and even Jimmy Hendrix, the 27’s club boasts big names. So it’s only natural to wonder whether some recent deaths are related to an artistic need for being part of something larger than life or is there something very wrong with Hollywood?
Look at Amy Winehouse. Look at Janis Jopin. Look at Mac Miller. The same patterns, and the same story repeated over and over again. The signs are always there if you look closely.
When The Spotlight Is Switched Off…
At the end of the day, when all the glamor fades, the only thing left are the drugs? Perhaps, yes. Perhaps, no. But what most celebrities struggle with is anxiety and depression, two of the most common mental health issues. With easy money comes easy solutions – so why consider therapy when you can obtain some coke and solve your problem overnight?
Opting for what’s easy is the biggest mistake anyone can make. And let’s face it. Drugs are easy – the more you look for them, the faster they’ll appear in front of you!
The Tortured Artist Stereoteype:
Hollywood survives on a conventional notion that any mind-altering substance can create art that’s indispensable. Artists will cite examples of Van Gogh or even Coleridge for justifying their addiction. In fact, there are several artists who create work inspired by such substances.
From Floyd’s ‘Comfortably Numb’ to Mac Miller’s ‘Good News’ , it seems like there can be no art with drugs at this point.
Hollywood, Are You Not Gonna Breakup?
Breakups are hard. But you know what’s harder? Ending relationships that have lasted longer than you expected. And Hollywood’s relationship with substance abuse has lasted way longer than you anticipated. However, things are changing with more and more celebrities endorsing responsible drug usage and the significance of rehabilitation centers for the ones in need.
The question that still remains relevant is when will Hollywood end this toxic relationship with substance abuse?