Pubdate: Tue, 14 Feb 2012
Source: Augusta Chronicle, The (GA)
Copyright: 2012 The Augusta Chronicle
Contact: http://chronicle.augusta.com/help/contact
Website: http://chronicle.augusta.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/31

THE LESSON AMID THE SADNESS

Whitney Houston's Loss Is a Sobering Reminder of the Dangers of Substance Abuse

If substance abuse didn't kill Whitney Houston, it was undoubtedly a 
co-conspirator.

The icon who possessed perhaps the most powerful female voice in 
modern music history, along with eyes and a smile that could light up 
a Hollywood set, was famous for her addiction battle. There is little 
doubt that, at the end of the day, she drowned of a substance other than water.

If the silencing of this song bird didn't bring you to tears, go back 
and watch her soaring rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner at the 
1991 Super Bowl, available on YouTube.com. That moment, and her 
voice, will live forever.

Her passing is a tragedy that exceeds even Houston's fame and talent, 
for it's a red flag for the entire entertainment world and all those 
who follow it with zeal: The notion that substance abuse is no more 
than a lifestyle choice that makes for great fun at parties has 
simply got to be buried with this beautiful singer.

Her death at 48, as untimely as it is for her and her family and 
fans, comes at an opportune moment to remind the nation of the 
dangers of substance abuse. Medical marijuana supporters have 
succeeded in stripping away much of the drug's stigma in several 
states -- and the libertarian-leaning presidential candidate Ron Paul 
would, if he could, end federal proscriptions against drugs that are 
currently illegal.

While we agree with Paul on many aspects of the federal government's 
abuse of power, we diverge with him on illicit drugs. He sees drug 
use as a personal habit; in fact, they are a societal ill affecting 
us all. It's also naive to think that criminalization of drugs is the 
problem: Much of the damage done by drugs -- on the roads, in adult 
relationships, in the care and treatment of children -- has zero to 
do with their being illegal, and everything to do with what they do 
to people's heads.

Meanwhile, the rampant abuse of legal prescription drugs is a 
winked-at epidemic eroding lives and families and even making our 
streets less safe. It also has a federal fiscal component: Such 
things as federal assistance fraud are greatly exacerbated by the 
lure of drugs such as Oxycontin, which Food Stamp recipients can 
obtain by selling the fruits of public aid. It has become a huge 
problem on the streets.

Regardless of the politics, one would hope the outpouring of love and 
lament for Whitney Houston at the Grammy awards Sunday night would 
translate into an apolitical, extra-judicial, ground-up war on drugs 
by the entertainment industry itself. Please, no more public 
platitudes and off-camera snickers as the world's most talented and 
promising performers destroy themselves as their peers and sycophants 
cheer it on -- and as pliable young fans look on.

Losing Whitney Houston is a deep tragedy that will only be made 
deeper if we fail to learn from it.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom