Christina Aguilera and Charlie Sheen are the latest celebrities with drug and alcohol issues. One of the reasons celebrities often have such public, dramatic meltdowns due to addiction is because they are protected from the realities of their addiction.
Challenges Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Jeffery Huttman explains that celebrities are often protected by those around them from experiencing the consequences of their addiction.
According to Dr. Huttman, “The consequences of addiction usually get worse over time. Addiction is a progressive disease. It’s never easy to quit. People usually stop using when they’ve suffered enough negative consequences. Famous people are often shielded from the realities of their addiction because the consequences are slower to hit home. Stardom and riches also tend to correlate with feelings of invincibility. When you’ve suffered enough pain and enough regret you’ll be ready to stop.”
Christina Aguilera and her boyfriend Matthew Rutler were arrested early Tuesday morning. The couple was pulled over by the police because their car was driving erratically. Charlie Sheen is clearly struggling with addiction and possibly Bipolar issues.
We hope both Christina and Charlie get the help they need soon.
