Amy Winehouse (a name draped in irony)
3 09 2007
Mark Ravenhill over at The Guardian has an interesting blog article on Amy Winehouse’s rapid spiral into addiction.
I enjoyed the article, it was well written and in places funny but it also kind of annoyed me because what everyone seems to miss in all the extensive coverage is the fact that she (and her partner from the sounds of things) are suffering from a disease. And a disease is what addiction qualifies as.
I’ve seen it numerous times; the behaviour (even when sober) addiction produces is too illogical, too death-defyingly bizarre too be explained any other way and its status as an illness demonstrated in many studies.
Why do we insist on covering people’s illnesses in this way? You wouldn’t make jokes about someone with cancer? or AIDS? Believe me if Amy doesn’t sort this out it will be every bit as fatal as other serious illnesses. The music industry is littered with examples.
More annoying than the coverage however was the view espoused by her father who seems to be proclaiming they should be left to their own devices because when they hit rock bottom they’ll sort it out.
Sorry Daddy Winehouse: rock bottom is the inside of a coffin.
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well done- it annoys me too how other people can’t seem to see it this way.
Addiction is not an illness, its simply part of a learning curve. I would be supprised if rock bottom is ever reached, but pretending to be there seems to make very good publicity anyway.
I belive an apology to daddy winehouse is needed; he seems to have some idea what he is talking about, which is more than I can say for some…
I guess it’s inevitable that not everyone will agree with you particularly on such a contentious issue as addiction and celebrity excess. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and that is why I approved the above comment.
Whilst I do recognise freedom of speech, it’s one of my most fervently held beliefs, I am going to take exception to two points in 200Ponies comments. The first and the item that I have the biggest issue with is the idea I have no idea what I’m talking about.
Perhaps I wasn’t explicit enough in the paragraph I started “I’ve seen it numerous times…” but I was in fact talking from experience - four members (one dead) of my family suffer from this illness. The point of the post was to draw attention to the opinion (supported by many organisations of which one can be found here) that addiction is a mental illness. Just like other forms of self harm this can require the dramatic intervention of family and friends to prevent the sufferer’s death.
It was in that context I felt “Daddy Winehouse” had made the wrong call.
The second point was (and again you’re entitled to your opinion) that I somehow needed to apologise.
A) As you so astutely pointed out the whole sordid affair is being played out in the media and in some cases spun to the artist’s advantage so I think I’m free to comment
And
B) As flattered as I am by the suggestion that he reads this blog that boat ain’t going to fly.
The last thing I would say is disagree with me as you might, it is very hard to see how dying from a heroin overdose isn’t a fairly final and immediate rock bottom. We’re not talking about a few spliffs.
Shit looks like I should be the one apologising… Sorry.
A to the motherfucking k hole.
As a recovering addict myself, i think i can say intervention doesnt work. If the addict doesnt want to recover, they wont.
And a rock bottom is necessary. For some it’s emotional, for others financial, but without hitting your low point, you have no reason to want to recover.
The problem with most celebrity addicts is that there’s always someone to clean up their mess, and they don’t reach the low’s regular folk do.
Addition is an illness, but only the addict can cure themselves. Only an estimated 3% perminantly recover. The odds arent good and (having been there myself) if you cant find the strength to recover, death is preferable to the living hell that is addiction.
Dont pity the dead addicts, they’re at peace, finally. Amy and others like her are in a living hell, and i dont envy her one bit.
Addiction may be an illness, but I draw the line at disease. As someone who has recently gone through cancer treatment, i cringe every time I hear someone say that. She chose to have that first drink. You don’t choose cancer. It chooses you. That’s the difference.
Stacy, thanks for commenting and thanks for such an interesting viewpoint. I have to admit I hadn’t thought about it that way.
And you’re right: choice is involved. Although it’s worth bearing in mind that if addiction turns out to be genetic the choice to pick up a drink may be a free one but the choice to pick up the next one may not be.
Cat, thanks for your comments to. I agree the patient has to want to get better and that may come as they perceive they hit rock bottom but, even though they often fail, it is better to try an intervention and fail than to do nothing.
Occasionally it does work. As for the dead. It’s not them I pity, it’s the people who are still around and have to live with the aftermath.
Remember these are just my views. I’m not saying I’m right and everyone else is wrong. This is just one man’s opinion.
Interesting read. Although initially her life style was her own choice, by now it must have morphed into this type of illness.
Stacy has a very valid point, and said it most poignantly. It is important to recognise the difference between the two. Both are devastating.
I think it is important to share views - makes everyone (even 200Ponies who sadly appears to have taken offence) that little bit more broadminded. 200 Ponies did have an interesting point about the publicity side of the affair. ‘Daddy Winehouse’ must be having a hard enough time coping with what has happened to his daughter, never mind trying to get together something to say to the press. The problem for Amy is that the learning curve is so terribly…difficult, as Cat said. There has to be some kind of a kick, and she won’t neccessarily have the more real-life problems to kick her out of it
I commend you for standing up for Amy and people with addiction problems… I sometimes find it quite disturbing how we seem to be so interested in the downfall of others… In fact i came across a site today where you can bet on when amy (and other celebrities) will die from a drug related death… I think this is absolutely disgusting. These sites, paparazzi and the media really have no shame, particularily the readers who create demand for this nonsense…