Tragically, these three famous people fell victim to the growing heroin epidemic, and lost their lives because of it.
Every few months, I wake up to hear of another death from heroin. No matter how famous or not-famous a person is, it always hurts my heart. The heroin epidemic is growing quickly, and we watch with shock as celebrity after celebrity falls victim to its grasp. I hear people wonder out loud, “Why do they keep doing drugs when the risk is death?” It is hard to understand why anyone would play with something so deadly, but once the game begins, it is hard to leave the board. Heroin is a powerful drug with temporary results; the high is incredible, but the fall is fatal. When you are in an industry where drugs and alcohol are so easily available, a single moment of weakness can be your greatest mistake. Heroin is incredibly addictive, and a single try can have you hooked for life.
Here are three recent celebrities who died from an overdose of heroin, or heroin mixed with other drugs.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman died at age 46 in 2014. This talented actor worked hard to grow his career in Hollywood. He was seen in several films and started directing his own works. After mixing heroin with other drugs, he died an accidental death that broke the hearts of many. He was admired by many, and people will always wonder about the goals and things he will never accomplish.
Cory Monteith
Cory Monteith passed away at age 31 in 2013. You might recognize this sweet face from the TV series Glee. With his charming smile and sparkling eyes, he won fans over across America. When I heard of his death from an overdose of heroin, I wiped a few tears away. He was too young to die, but heroin doesn’t care about age; it takes the life of anyone.
Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston died at age 48 in 2012. Houston had a gift that very few possess. Her voice was powerful and touched the lives of many. One night, she drowned in the bathtub after mixing heroin with several other drugs; her bad heart could not handle the amount, and she lost consciousness. Family and friends ached with pain and showed that drugs don’t only hurt the individual.
Many wonder why people overdose on drugs, but it’s a mistake that is very easy to make. The first time someone tries heroin, as with many other drugs, they experience an intense high. They immediately begin craving that same high, but in order to achieve it, they must increase the dose. After several uses, the heroin high is no longer as fulfilling, and dosage is increased even more. Without even realizing it, a person is now taking lethal amounts of heroin to reach an unachievable high. The body can only take so much before it quits altogether.
Getting help to overcome an addiction is the only way to heal the body and save your life. It is heart-wrenching to think of the celebrities who have died because of heroin, but their deaths can serve as a reminder of the heroin epidemic that needs to be stopped.
Morningside Recovery Is Fighting the Growing Heroin Epidemic
It seems as though nothing can stop the growing heroin epidemic that is ravaging the country. However, addiction must be treated as a disease for us to have any hope of beating it. The addiction treatment services and rehab programs at Morningside Recovery do just that. Reach out to our expert team today at 855-631-2135 to learn more.
By Michelle Conway
Photo by: Jens Finke (Flickr)
