It’s been 30 years since we lost comedian John Belushi to a drug overdose involving cocaine and heroin. On the anniversary of his death, the comic’s good friend and co-star Dan Akroyd spoke out in an exclusive interview with Showbiz Tonight about what might have been.

Belushi died on March 5, 1982, at just 33 years old. Akroyd believes that if his friend had lived, he would be a Broadway director today.

“That would have been his destiny, because he was so intelligent and so well referenced there,” Akroyd said, adding, “He was more of an academic than the ‘Bluto’ image would have you believe.”

Akroyd also commented on Belushi’s addiction, insisting that during “the last summer of his life, not a powder nor a pill did he touch. Nothing. Just smoked a little bud. That was it. And wine and beer and food, you know.”

After that revelation, Akroyd made the odd prediction that “If he’d been a pothead, he’d be alive today ‘cause that doesn’t kill ya.”

It may be true that marijuana isn’t as deadly as cocaine or heroin, but for someone struggling with addiction, any substances can cause trouble or lead to relapse. We have no way to know if that’s what happened in John Belushi’s case, but it certainly didn’t help.

Addiction Help at La Paloma

If you or someone you love is battling drug or alcohol addiction, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

While we wait for the official cause of death for Whitney Houston, her passing has sparked in odd debate over the issue of legalizing drugs. Brought up the very evening Houston died, aging recording artist Tony Bennett made a questionable connection to the deaths of several beloved stars and the legalization of drugs that left many scratching their heads.

Bennett told the audience at Clive Davis’ Beverly Hills pre-Grammy party, “First it was Michael Jackson, then it was Amy Winehouse, and now, the magnificent Whitney Houston. I’d like to have every gentleman and lady in this room commit themselves to get our government to legalize drugs — so they’ll have to get it through a doctor, not some gangsters who just sell it under the table.”

Um, what? Jackson died from medication administered by a doctor and Winehouse died from alcohol, which has been available legally in the U.S. since Prohibition ended in 1933. His references made the plea seem unrelated, and in light of Houston’s death being so fresh, it seemed at the very least, a bit insensitive.

While illegal drugs deaths are tragic and still all too frequent, it’s the number of drug deaths by legal means (i.e. prescription painkillers like Vicodin or Oxycontin) that is really on the rise in this country. With that in mind, Bennett might have been better off to warn his audience to commit themselves to staying clean rather than fighting to legalize drugs we know can kill – whether obtained from a street pusher or a legal source.

Drug Addiction Help at La Paloma

If you or someone you love needs help with drug addiction, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

Has VH1 pulled the plug on the popular show Celebrity Rehab? The network has no current plans for 2012 versions of Celebrity Rehab, or its spin-off Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House, but the official word from the network is that programs are not cancelled and future editions are off the schedule due to scheduling issues, EW.com reported.

While the Dr. Drew-hosted show has been popular, drawing a lot of publicity for the network, the idea of taking the very private process of substance abuse treatment public and showing it on the small screen has been questioned. Proponents argue that the celebrities who appear on the show ARE getting professional help — despite the cameras.

Tragedy struck last year, though, when two previous participants died. Jeff Conaway, who appeared on season two of Celebrity Rehab, passed away from complications from taking prescription medications. Season three participant and former Sober House resident Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr died after mixing Xanax and alcohol.

The network aired five seasons of Celebrity Rehab, including two editions in 2010, EW.com reported. The show, set at Southern California’s Pasadena Recovery Center, was considered a success for the network, averaging about 1 million viewers per episode, higher than the network’s 600,000 primetime average.

The shows could still return, but they remain off the schedule for now and Dr. Drew is currently focusing on his daytime CW talk show, Lifechangers.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment at La Paloma

If you or someone you love needs help with alcohol or drug addiction issues, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

A princess may seem like an unlikely proponent for drug treatment, but Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, has included an organization that helps those struggling with addiction in the short list of charities she plans to champion in the service of her country.

In a first step toward carving out a public role for herself separate from her husband, Prince William, the newly minted royal announced Thursday the UK charities she has chosen to support as patron. The list includes the Art Room, a group that provides art therapy to children, the National Portrait Gallery, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, the Scout Association, and Action on Addiction, which runs a network of addiction treatment centers across England.

The latter is a potentially controversial choice, but the hope is that her patronage can help remove the stigma from addiction in the way Princess Diana’s support for people diagnosed with HIV and AIDS changed public opinion about that disease.

“It’s not an easy subject for some people — but I think this sort of patronage will change that,” said Nick Barton, chief executive of Action on Addiction.

The charity helps those with addiction issues as well as providing support for families of addicts, training for professionals, and backing for research.

Addiction Help at La Paloma

If you or someone you love needs help with alcohol or drug addiction, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about addiction treatment, financing or insurance.

Any death is sad, and death as a result of a disease — especially one that could have been treated — is especially tragic. As 2011 comes to an end, it’s time to look back at the famous faces we lost this year to the tenacious disease of addiction. Some deaths were directly traced back to current substance use, while others were the result of poor health related to past substance abuse.

While 27-year-old singer Amy Winehouse had accomplished so much in her young life, her talent was often overshadowed by her alcoholism and drug use. The performer was reportedly working to overcome her addiction when she was found dead July 23 in her London apartment. The cause of death was determined to be alcohol poisoning.

Former Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr had a very public battle with drug addiction, chronicled in part on the third season of VH1′s Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. He was found dead March 8, at age 44.

Another bassist, Mikey Welsh, who had played with the rock band Weezer before retiring to pursue an art career, died in Chicago on Oct. 8. He was found dead in his hotel room from a suspected drug overdose that led to a heart attack. Two weeks earlier, Welsh predicted his death in a Twitter post, saying, “dreamt i died in chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). need to write my will today.” followed by “correction – the weekend after next.” Welsh played on Weezer’s 2001 Green Album, featuring the hit song “Hash Pipe.”

Jeff Conaway was best known for his roles in the movie Grease and the TV series Taxi. In later years, he also became known for his longtime battle with addiction. Conaway died May 27 after two weeks in a medically induced coma. The official cause of death for the 60-year-old was pneumonia, but his problem with pain meds surely played a role.

Jackass fans were stunned to hear of the death of 34-year-old Ryan Dunn, known for his dangerous stunts and tricks. He was killed June 20 in a fiery car crash that police later said resulted from alcohol and driving at high speeds. Dunn tweeted pictures earlier in the evening that appeared to show him drinking at a Pennsylvania bar.

Addiction Help at La Paloma

If you or someone you love needs help with alcohol addiction or substance abuse issues, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

Longtime fans of MTV’s The Real World may remember watching in shock as cast member Ruthie’s alcohol problem surged out of control during 1999’s Hawaii-based season. Over on Survivor, Jessica “Sugar” Kiper was reportedly suicidal following the show and engaged in several addictions, landing her on the fifth season of Celebrity Rehab. Reality TV’s meteoric rise in popularity has come with an interesting side effect: A firsthand view of addiction. Many of these programs have inadvertently showcased meltdowns by reality stars that continue to publically spiral downward or enter treatment.

The latest reality TV personality to hit bottom while the cameras rolled is Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kim Richards. A former child star and aunt of celebutante Paris Hilton, Richards entered treatment last week for what People magazine called “alcohol abuse and other problems.”

As with many who struggle with addiction, it isn’t her first time seeking professional help. Last season, her substance abuse issues were the subject of a major blow-up between Kim and her sister Kyle, who also appears on the show. This season, her erratic behavior has continued. In one episode, Richards seemed to be slurring her words, causing co-stars to question her sobriety. The official explanation was that she was taking anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications, along with an anti-seizure medication, which can be used to treat alcoholism.

According to the People article, Kim’s family is relieved she’s getting help and fans of the show are wishing her well. It also raises the question of whether these reality shows expose people’s weaknesses and pain. Obviously, reality star wannabes don’t sign up to appear on TV, thinking their biggest problems will be made public. On the positive side, the pressure cooker that is reality TV may bring simmering issues to the surface faster than they would if the cameras weren’t there. If this results in individuals getting help, that’s a good thing.

Alcohol Addiction

If you or someone you love needs alcohol addiction treatment, call La Paloma at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

Three years after the South Carolina plane crash that killed four and critically injured Travis Barker and DJ AM, Barker is speaking out about the positive changes that resulted from the horrific accident.

The heavily tattooed, hard-rocking musician told Rolling Stone he’s been vegan since leaving the hospital where he was treated for severe burns suffered in the crash. He also makes exercise more of a priority. But the most important change was probably weaning himself off the prescription medication he was dependent on before the accident.

“In the hospital, I promised myself that I ever walked again, that I would eat well and swim every day. Before the plane crash, I was battling a painkiller addiction. For years,” he says. “I can proudly say I didn’t even take any pain medication after I got out of the hospital. They told me I’d be on some of the medicine for the rest of my life, but I got off all of them. They made me a completely different person.”

Barker, 35, admitted one other change that resulted from the crash. He no longer flies, limiting his touring opportunities. It’s something he hopes to eventually overcome, though.

Prescription Drug Addiction

If you or someone you love is in need of prescription addiction treatment or help with other substance abuse issues, call La Paloma at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

Rev. Zachery Tims, Jr., the 42-year-old pastor of a mega-church in Orlando, Florida, was found dead in a Times Square hotel room last week, shocking his thousands of parishioners. The cause of death is still pending, but news reports say that a substance believed to be narcotics was discovered with the body.

According to a law enforcement official, police found a glassine envelope with a white powdery substance inside the right pocket of Tims’ shorts. The substance is still being tested and it is yet to be determined if it played a role in the death. Police found no signs of trauma to Tims’ body and at this point law enforcement does not suspect foul play. Valuables and other belongings remained in the room.

Tims’ Drug Addiction Past

As a pastor, Tims may seem like an unlikely victim of drug overdose, but Tims’ dramatic story actually started when he was young and in need of drug treatment in Maryland. According to his 2006 memoir, It’s Never Too Late, he was “miraculously saved,” going on to earn multiple degrees and work at a ministry in Baltimore before founding Orlando’s New Destiny Christian Center in 2006 with his then-wife. In 2009, after 15 years of marriage, Tims and his wife Riva divorced when he admitted to a year-long affair with a stripper. The couple shared custody of their four children.

It’s tragic to see someone who seemed to have overcome drug abuse in his younger years to have potentially relapsed. Addiction treatment experts aren’t likely to be surprised, though. Anyone who has gone through addiction knows that recovery is a life-long process and addicts can never consider themselves “cured.”

Drug Treatment

If you or someone you love is in need of drug treatment or other help, call La Paloma at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about drug abuse treatment, financing or insurance.

Betty Ford was laid to rest last week and was remembered as a First Lady, cancer survivor and an activist. But those in the recovery community memorialized her for her groundbreaking work in the field of addiction treatment. A recovering alcoholic herself, Ford was honest about her addiction at a time when these things just weren’t discussed publically. As a result, she was able to help lessen the stigma from the disease of addiction, making it easier for those who are afflicted to seek help.

Her legacy laid the groundwork for what we continue to do, day in and day out, providing treatment to individuals who are able to ask for help because she made it less taboo.

Ford’s Addiction

Mrs. Ford was initially forced to confront her addiction issues by concerned family members. In 1978, barely a year after leaving the White House, her family decided to stage an intervention to address her alcoholism and misuse of opioid analgesics, originally prescribed a decade earlier for a pinched nerve. She was initially angry, but she agreed to enter the Long Beach Naval Hospital to seek treatment, taking part in what was a hardcore, rigid, military-style program.

Following her treatment, Mrs. Ford would speak as candidly about her addiction as she had her breast cancer diagnosis years before. It was a public service that would continue to reverberate decades later. To have a well-respected, high-profile person put a face to the often misunderstood disease of addiction was a game changer. While we’ll never be able to get an accurate count of the number of lives saved by her honestly addressing the topic of addiction, there’s no doubt many would have succumbed to the disease without her example to follow. A former First Lady couldn’t have used her position and power for a better purpose.

Alcohol Addiction

If you or someone you love is battling alcohol addiction, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about alcoholism treatment, financing or insurance.

Even the powerful wizard Harry Potter isn’t immune to the lure of alcohol. Actor Daniel Radcliffe, who portrays Potter on the big screen, recently came clean about a secret battle with bottle.

Just days before the release of the much-anticipated series finale Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Radar.com exclusively reported on Radcliffe’s past drinking problem.

Radcliffe Comes Clean about Alcohol Addiction

The revelation was first made in an interview with British GQ, where he says, “I became so reliant on alcohol to enjoy stuff … There were a few years there when I was just so enamored with the idea of living some sort of famous person’s lifestyle that really isn’t suited to me.”

Radcliffe, who reveals his drink of choice was whiskey, explains that he hid the problem from fans and the media, and has since given up drinking altogether. While he says he’d love to be someone who could go out and have a few drinks, that isn’t an option for him.

“I do that very unsuccessfully,” he says. “I’d rather just sit at home and read or talk to somebody that makes me laugh.”

His newfound sobriety is making a positive difference in his relationships, too.

“I’m actually enjoying the fact I can have a relationship with my girlfriend where I’m really pleasant and I’m not f***ing up totally all the time,” he says.

Read Radcliffe’s full interview in the August 2011 issue of British GQ.

Alcohol Treatment

If you or someone you love is battling an alcohol addiction, call La Paloma at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about alcohol rehab, financing or insurance.