by Melissa Zorn

Created on: August 12, 2008

Today, more than ever in our history, we are saturated with information, gossip and news about the rich and famous. Some of these people are (or were) our idols. Some of these individuals are icons for our younger population striving to find themselves and their place in society. So, what is the difference between Lindsay Lohan and Lynda Carter (remember Wonder Woman-surprising, yet she is an alcoholic) versus your next-door neighbor and middle-class American who struggles with alcoholism? Is it the attention, money and quick success of actors, singers and other famous folks that causes them to cave to their drug or drink of choice or pushes them to lead otherwise irresponsible lifestyles? If so, then what about your no-name neighbor? What pushed her over the edge? Oh, for her it must have been a money issue or a marital problem, right? Wait just a minute.

I will concede that excessive disposable income would certainly help one afford to maintain bad habits such as alcoholism and drug addiction. However, having witnessed more than one friend fight these demons with an average to below average yearly earnings, I can honestly say that while fame may be an enabler and can sometimes influence behavior, it is not necessarily the root of the problem. While I'm not an addict myself, I know about the meetings and the 12-steps and the one thing that resonates through those rooms: it's about people, places and things. Ever heard your mom or dad say, "If you hang around the barber shop long enough, you're going to get a haircut"? Addiction has become an epidemic amongst celebrities and politicians, but why?

I believe that while many celebrities seem to lead a lifestyle we'd all be jealous of, in reality many have such hectic schedules that they are sleep-deprived, mal-nourished, and often living from hotel to hotel with no privacy and less-than-perfect relationships due to excessive travel or over-demanding work schedules. The fame becomes a vicious cycle of nothing more than a money train. The fact that these people falter and become addicts doesn't make them awful human beings: it makes them men and women showing weakness under extreme pressure.

So, back to the original question: are famous people destined to live destructive lifestyles? I say no. But those that do are just like any other addict: they're using drugs, alcohol or other self-destructing behavior to cope with life's problems-to mask them, if you will. If you're drunk or stoned, who cares if your mate wants

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