Celebrities and Addiction

Celebrities seem to have it all - fame, money, power. So why do so many of them fall into the same trap? And more importantly, how can you stop yourself from falling in?

Chris Farley was an actor and a comedian. He appeared in the hit television show Saturday Night Live and starred in movies including Tommy Boy, Beverly Hills Ninja, Wayne's World, and Coneheads. However, in spite of his enormous amount of talent and opportunities, Farley would get wrapped up in the world of drugs and alcohol. In December 1997, at the age of 33, Chris Farley died of an overdoes of cocaine and morphine (a speedball). He was found in his apartment on the 16th floor of the John Hancock Center in Chicago by his younger brother John.

Len Bias was a basketball star selected to play for the Celtics in the 1986 NBA draft. Less than 48 hours after he was chosen to be drafted, Bias died from a cocaine overdoes. He was only 22 years old.

Janis Joplin was a young talented American singer and songwriter. At various stages in her career, she was part of the following bands; Big Brother, The Holding Company, and Full Tilt Boogie Band, but later began a solo career. Joplin experimented with a variety of drugs and drank heavily and in 1970 she was found dead in her hotel room. Joplin died at the age of 27, from a heroin overdoes.

John Bonham was the drummer for the famous band, Led Zeppelin. Bonham learned to play the drums early in life and was known for his strong style of hitting and his unbelievable speed. However, along with music Bonham also had another addition - alcohol. He died at the age of 32 due to asphyxiation from vomiting. This was caused by his heavy alcohol consumption. The band, Led Zeppelin, decided to disband after Bonham's death.

River Phoenix was a talented actor and supporter of animal rights. Phoenix stared in movies such as Running of Empty, The Thing Called Love, Stand By Me, and Little Nikita. Phoenix's infamous 1993 death was outside the Hollywood night club, The Viper Room. He died as a result of speedballs (a combination of morphine and cocaine). Phoenix was only 23 at the time.

Ken Caminiti was a professional baseball player known as the first player to have announced steroid use (to the public) during his career. This third baseman was chosen MVP for the National League in 1996. However, to spite his many awards, fame, and talents, Caminiti struggled with alcohol and cocaine abuse. Caminiti died of a heart attack in 2004. (His heart attack was caused by an overdoes of cocaine). Caminiti was 41 years of age at the time.

The stories above are told to make young people today understand the tragedy that can come from drug and alcohol abuse. Each of the above stars lost their lives to addiction and it is the hope of The Southeast Missouri Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition that America's youth will make healthier choices for themselves.