Celebrities and Prescription Drug Addiction
The celebrity culture has become a national obsession in the United States. As times get tough economically, people seek refuge in the stories of the rich and famous living the supposed "good life" in the hills above Los Angeles and Hollywood. This attention is ratcheted up to another level when said celebrities are involved with drug addiction or substance abuse.
While the past few decades have seen certain drugs fall in and out of "style" within the Hollywood community, recently there has been a rise in the number of prescription drug addiction cases among the celebrity elite. Whether it is stimulant use to help individuals work longer and harder, or opiate-based painkillers to escape the pressures of being in the spotlight, prescription drug abuse has become a significant problem in Los Angeles – and around the world.
The following are some of the most notable cases of celebrity prescription drug addiction from the past several decades.
Celebrities with Prescription Drug Addictions
Rush Limbaugh
The mega-popular conservative radio host was forced to admit his long-time addiction to Vicodin and OxyContin when he was charged with illegally receiving a shipment of the prescription drugs. Limbaugh admitted his addiction and entered drug rehab, but the event provided a smug sense of satisfaction for critics of a man who has always presented himself as "holier than thou."
Chevy Chase
The original Saturday Night Live cast member spent decades battling a painkiller addiction. He originally began taking the medication to help cope with the pain he experienced after his now infamous pratfalls on TV and in the movies. Chase's addiction got so bad that he would eventually check himself into the Betty Ford Clinic for rehab.
Elvis Presley
Long before the boom in prescription drug addiction, the King of Rock n Roll was destroying his talent and his life as a result of multiple addictions to prescription medications. Elvis first began using drugs in the military when he developed an addiction to stimulants. Upon returning home, the pressures of the music and film industries led to multiple addictions. The pills were supplied to Presley without concern for his health by the artist's personal physician Dr. George Nichopoulos. Elvis Presley died of a massive overdose in 1977.
Matthew Perry
Star of the sitcom hit Friends, Perry took Vicodin habitually until 1997 when he checked himself into a drug rehab program for treatment. Perry would later say publically that the Vicodin addiction was just one of many substance abuse issues he was experiencing at the height of his fame.
What Can We Learn From Celebrities with Prescription Drug Addictions?
Celebrities, despite their high profile careers, are just like everyone else. They suffer from the same emotional and physical problems – and are just as susceptible to drug addiction. Those who get help and share their stories with the public are actually performing an important public service. Through their tales of addiction, the general public can gain a better understanding of the dangers of Vicodin, OxyContin and other medications.
Michael's House is a residential rehab program that individuals from all walks of life overcome their prescription drug addictions. Contact Michael's House today at for more information.
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