When Nancy Reagan began her "just say no" campaign, I used to laugh. Why? I never thought anyone who actually used drugs would listen to her message. She was just another rich, privileged do-gooder trying to tell the masses of people who were poor, disenfranchised and hurting how to spend their money, time and life. Why should or would they listen to her? Yet, I realize this was only a stereotype.
When I pictured a drug addict, I didn't see anyone who was rich, powerful or successful. I only saw broke, weak losers. However, now, I know I was wrong. Some people have everything that other folks dream of and lose it all over dope. When it happens, the average man or woman goes into shock because it is so ridiculous. Why work so hard to obtain a fabulous life just to throw it down the drain over a needle or a pipe?
So who are these people? Celebs. Athletes. Entertainers. Lets go over the Hall of Shame now with a few of our favorites.
Marion Jones
She is the wholesome faced track star who took our hearts in the 2000 Olympics by winning three gold medals. She recently came out and admitted to taking the steroid THC. So what happened next? Bye, bye gold. She has to return them along with the other two medals she won during that time. And to add to her sorrow? She is out of the track and field game. Her dreams just flew right out of the window.
Britney Spears
This ex-Mickey-Mouse clubber turned pop-diva went international with her banging moves and hot dance songs. We joked about her Southern slang, but Spears didn't care because was laughing all the way to the bank. So how did she handle success? By allegedly sniffing part of it up her nose. So far, it's cost her two prized possessions - her kids. Recently, a court ordered that Sean Preston (2-years-old) and Jayden James (1-years-old) live with their father Kevin Federline. Britney still gets to see them, but only through monitored and scheduled visits. She also has to get drug-tested. So far, she's failed to show up for any of them. It makes you wonder if the drugs she takes are overpowering every brain cell in her head.
Whitney Houston
She was the soulful singer who moved us with her vocals so much that we didn't want to believe that she was living a double life. We bought her records and happily watched as she gained success and even got onto the big screen in movies' like “The Body Guard” and “Waiting to Exhale.” After all, she deserved it. When Whitney hit the music scene, we hadn't heard a new voice as powerful as hers in years. What did she do? Marry down and begin sniffing away her dreams. The latest? Whitney is back with her old producer Clive Davis working a new record after losing so much money that she ended up having a garage sale. A garage sale! In 1995, Whitney Houston was listed in Forbes as a top earner and by 2007, she's selling her rags for pennies? The music industry is different these days. Whitney will be singing a long time in order to get even half of the money she lost back. Let's hope that her next album drops big.
Lindsay Lohan.
We loved her in “The Parent Trap” and “Freaky Friday.” Her precocious ways and freckles made her an American Sweetheart. It also kept her working in Hollywood. After a while, she became part of the “young, rich and fabulous” crowd and then began to drink excessively and do cocaine. This landed her in jail and changed her reputation from famous to infamous. Although she's never quit making movies, all we hear about is her bad behavior and rehab stints. The latest? She is making her first public appearances now after spending two months (August "07 - October "07) in the Cirque Lodge Treatment Centre. This time is her longest stay in a rehab. Hopefully it will take because out of all of the Hall of Shamers' she's lost the least in her life.
These women are only a few high profile people who let their fame and fortune turn them into dopes. Let's learn from their mistakes and avoid the use of drugs, so we can live quality lives.
