Graded Discussion (Out of 5)

Graded Discussion (Out of 5) • 1 person at a time (Facilitator?) -1 Point • Everyone speaks once (2 Freebies) -1 Point • (At least) 5 subtopics related to addiction -1 Point • Time (At least 20 minutes) & No lapse in speaking >15 seconds -1 Point • Side chatter (nada) -1 Point

Addiction:Tragedies & Success Stories

Addiction • Addiction Defined: Compulsion to use despite negative circumstances. • Two Types: • Chemical Dependency OR • Process or Behavioral Addiction Both defined by loss of control and fundamental changes in the brain.

There is only one reason why men become addicted to drugs, they are weak men. Only strong men are cured, and they cure themselves. --Martin H. Fischer Do You Agree?

John Belushi Died: March 5, 1982 Born: January 24, 1949 Died of Cocaine and Heroin Overdose

Drew Barrymore Troubled times came for Barrymore, when she tried alcohol for the first time at age 9, and marijuana at age 10. Soon after, she turned to cocaine, and was forced into ASAP Family Treatment Center, a drug rehab clinic. July 1989 was her all-time low; she unsuccessfully attempted suicide, and was sent back to rehab.

Richard Lewis “The more help you get, the better. And the more time you spend being sober, the better. If a person has a problem and admits it, even for just a day, it's not wasted. It's never wasted. When you stop waking up in the morning with the same clothes on, feeling hung over, nauseated or sick, your life is better.”

People spend a lifetime searching for happiness; looking for peace. They chase idle dreams, addictions, religions, even other people, hoping to fill the emptiness that plagues them. The irony is the only place they ever needed to search was within. --Ramona L. Anderson

River Phoenix Born: 1970 Died: 1993 Died of Heroin Overdose

Janis Joplin Born: 1943 Died: 1970 At that time her addiction to drugs was increased with the use of the heroin, besides to become absolutely alcoholic. The whiskey mark "Southern Comfort" became famous because of her.

Brian Jones Born: 1943 Died:1969 Rolling Stones Guitarist Died by drowning in a swimming pool while he was drunk and on various drugs.

Elvis Presley Born: 1942 Died: 1970 Elvis Presley was a great singer. He was not only a singer he was also a actor. He helped create the first nationwide sweep of rock and roll music. Elvis sold more than 500 million records and 33 movies. Unfortunately his addiction with drugs caused him to die due to overdose.

Whitney Houston The Sun quoted Whitney’s sister-in-law as saying: "The truth needs to come out. Whitney won't stay off the drugs. It's every single day. It's so ugly. Everyone is so scared she is going to overdose." Whitney is now divorcing Bobby Brown, who many believe is responsible for her drug addiction, and is making a career come-back.

Matt Perry Checked himself into rehab for addiction to prescription pills in the past and has had an on/off battle with his addiction ever since. Perry admitted at one stage he was taking around 30 pills and drinking up to two pints of vodka a day, a level of abuse which resulted in him being rushed to hospital after suffering a violent seizure.

Mary Kate Olsen Rumors abound that Mary-Kate Olsen went into rehab to help her win her battle with anorexia and cocaine addiction. Mary-Kate's father checked her into the $29,850 30 day program at Cirque Lodge in Utah.

Kurt Cobain Born: 1967 Died: 1994 Depression either stemming from or leading to Alcoholism, Marijuana, Smoking and Heroin ultimately committing suicide in 1994.

"That, of course, is the devil's bargain of addiction: a short-term good feeling in exchange for the steady meltdown of one's life." --Daniel Goodman

Chris Farley Born: 1964 Died: 1997 Overdose (Cocaine/Heroin)

Nicole Richie In February 2003, Richie was arrested for possession of heroin, a felony, and driving with a suspended license, a misdemeanor. She posted a $10,000 bail to appear in the first season of The Simple Life.

Keith Moon Born: August 23, 1946 Died: September 7, 1978 He was the drummer for “The Who.” He Died of an overdose of pills that were meant to combat his alcoholism or just drug overdose.

Kate Moss In London Kate Moss was caught on camera using cocaine. This was outside a London recording studio where she was snorting and chopping the cocaine. The usage due in part to the industry in which she is working.

“We may think there is willpower involved, but more likely… change is due to want power. Wanting the new addiction more than the old one. Wanting the new me in preference to the person I am now.” --George Sheehan

Keith Urban Nicole (Kidman) and Keith had signed a pre-nup to safe-guard Kidman's $150 million. In the event of a split Keith would receive just over $600,000 a year for every year they were together. There's an additional clause that allows Nicole to leave the marriage without providing any money to Keith, an ex-cocaine addict, if he uses illegal narcotics or drinks excessively.

Brad Nowell Born: 1968 Died: 1996 Lead Singer of Sublime. Died of Heroin Overdose.

Starred in Full House as Stephanie Tanner Married in 2002,but recently filed for divorce because of her secret addiction to Crystal Meth. Started Meth experimentation when she was bored and unemployed. It soon became a habit and her ex-cast mates staged an intervention. Entered 6 week program and has been sober since March last year. Jodie Sweetin

Dave Navarro Heroin

Britney Spears Britney Spears has been popping up to a case of Coke every day while at Promises, according to Star. But all that caffeine is making Brit a less than exemplary patient, say Star sources: "She’s been very demanding … refuses to pick up after herself and even asked if she could hire a maid."

Jerry Garcia Born: 1942 Died: 1995 Died of Heart Failure from years of Cocaine, Marijuana, and Heroin abuse

Addiction should never be treated as a crime. It has to be treated as a health problem. We do not send alcoholics to jail in this country. Over 500,000 people are in our jails who are nonviolent drug users.--Ralph Nader Do You Agree or Disagree?

Mel Gibson Alcoholism Mel Gibson, who was charged with driving under the influence recently, is participating in an outpatient "program of recovery," his publicist said.

Tim Allen Allen's rise to fame almost never happened. In 1978 Allen was arrested with an accomplice at an airport in while possessing 1.4 pounds of cocaine. Because of the huge quantity, he was facing life in prison. Instead, Allen agreed to testify against his partner in exchange for a sentence of three to seven years in prison.

Curtis Jackson “50 Cent” Heroin/Cocaine He renamed himself 50 Cent -- "a metaphor for change" -- and was signed by Columbia Records in 1999. After recording an album, Power Of A Dollar, he was famously shot nine times in front of his grandmother's house in 2000.

Noelle Bush Noelle Bush, daughter of Florida Governor Jeb Bush, was placed under custody on October 17, 2002, for 10 days after she was found in possession of crack cocaine while undergoing treatment in a drug rehabilitation center.

Johnny Cash Born: February 26, 1932 Died: September 12, 2003 He began drinking heavily during the 1960’s after his career took off. He was highly addicted to amphetamines and barbiturates. In 1965, he was caught smuggling amphetamines in his guitar case

Kirsty Ally Overcoming Long Time Battle with Cocaine Addiction

Ken Caminiti Born: April 21, 1963 Died: Oct. 10, 2004 Former Major Leage Baseball Player (Won 3 Golden gloves, National Leauge’s MVP in 1996).Caminiti struggled with substance abuse throughout his career. He admitted that he had used steroids. He also had a long struggle with cocaine, having been arrested in March 2001 for possession and sentenced to probation.

Judy Garland Born: 1922 Died: 1969 Died of Multiple Drug Overdose

Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol or morphine or idealism.-- Carl Gustav Jung

Robert Downey Jr. Heroin, Cocaine, Alcoholism Downey has had numerous arrests, court hearings and stints in prison following years of drug binges. His fist public incident was on 23rd June 1996 when he was arrested for drink-driving and being in possession of Mexican Black Tar heroin, crack, cocaine and an unloaded .357 Magnum revolver. Subsequent arrests found Dowey in possession of cocaine and Valium.

Ben Affleck Alcoholism Affleck's spokesman says, "Ben is a self-aware and smart man who has decided that a fuller life awaits him without alcohol. He has chosen to seek professional assistance and is committed to traveling a healthier road with the support of his family, friends and his fans.

Jim Morrison Born: 1942 Died: 1970 The most widely accepted theory is that Morrison's death came after a heroin overdose.

Jimi Hendrix Born: 1942 Died: 1970 Died of Overdose of Wine and Sleeping Pills

Anna Nicole Smith Born:1967 Died:2007 The death of Anna Nicole Smith has fueled wild speculation, but Smith’s Florida hotel room was like “walking into a pharmacist’s shop” and that prescription medication found at the scene included the stimulant Provigil, the antidepressant Xanax, the powerful pain reliever Vicodin, and the morphine-like pain reliever Methadone.

Robin Williams Cocaine During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Williams had a serious addiction to cocaine that has recently resurfaced. One quote attributed to him: "Cocaine is God's way of telling you that you are making too much money."

Dana Plato“Different Strokes” Born: 1964 Died: 1999 Died of Overdose of Valium/Sleeping Pills

“I admire addicts. In a world where everybody is waiting for some bline, random disaster, or some sudden disease, the addict has the comfort of knowing what will most likely wait for him down the road. He's taken some control over his ultimate fate, and his addiction keeps the cause of death from being a total surprise.” --Chuck Palahniuk

Jonathon Melvoin Birth 1961 Death 1996 Keyboardist for “The Smashing Pumpkins.” Overdosed on heroin he had taken with the band’s drummer, Jimmy Chamberlain on a tour in New York.

Dana Plato R.J. Reynolds, 58, tobacco company founder * emphysema R.J. Reynolds, III, 59, tobacco company heir * emphysema

‘ODB’ Born: 1968 Died: 2004 ODB was easily the most unpredictable member of rap super group Wu-Tang Clan. ODB helped form the group in 1992, but his off-stage antics have since overshadowed his on-stage talent.A subsequent autopsy reveals ODB overdosed on cocaine and painkillers.

Graded Discussion (Out of 5)