Winehouse, 27, had been battling her demons and seemed to be winning, but her untimely death shows how precarious recovery can be and reminds us just how difficult alcohol addiction is to overcome.

Officials don’t think Winehouse meant to harm herself, despite the fact that her blood alcohol level was more than five times the legal limit, leading the coroner to rule the incident “death by misadventure.”

Winehouse’s parents, Mitch and Janis, were in the court to hear the verdict, as was the late singer’s doctor, Christina Romete. The physician earlier told the court that she last saw Winehouse on the evening before her death. The singer, who had successfully battled drugs problems, had started drinking again after a period of abstinence, Dr. Romete said. Despite that admission, Romette said, “She didn’t want to die, she was looking forward to the future.”

No illegal drugs were found in Winehouse’s system, and immediately following her death this past summer Winehouse’s family suggested the tragic incident may have been the result of her suddenly stopping drinking. Treatment experts have long acknowledged that alcohol detox is one of the most difficult and dangerous.

After learning of the cause of death, Winehouse’s family issued a statement, saying, “It is some relief to finally find out what happened to Amy. We understand there was alcohol in her system when she passed away; it is likely a build up of alcohol in her system over a number of days. The court heard that Amy was battling hard to conquer her problems with alcohol and it is a source of great pain to us that she could not win in time.”

Alcohol Addiction Treatment

If you or someone you love is in need of help with alcohol addiction or treatment for other 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.

While some U.S. residents are hesitant to travel to Mexico due to the recent rise in drug- and gang-related crime there, First Lady Michelle Obama has no qualms about venturing there for her first solo foreign trip.

In addition to creating some good will between the two neighboring countries, Mrs. Obama used the opportunity to speak out about the drug issue.

Following a Mexico City meeting with her Mexican counterpart, Margarita Zavala de Calderon, the First Lady said the United States need to do more to reduce the demand for illegal drugs if it wants to help reduce the violence that has wracked its southern neighbor, according to CNN.

Steps Away from Drug Problems

One positive approach is de Calderon’s “New Life Centers,” which help with prevention and education so that fewer young people will become addicted. Mrs. Obama cited those programs and called for more of the same, pointing to education and opportunity as key elements in keeping kids off drugs. A solid education, a job with a decent wage and opportunities to provide for themselves and their families are all valuable tools, according to the First Lady.

A lack of those opportunities has lead to a surge in drug trafficking and violence. According to a new government report released in April 2010, more than 22,000 people have died from drug violence since Mexican President Felipe Calderon declared war on narcotics trafficking cartels in December 2006.

Illegal Drug Addiction

If you or someone you love is battling an 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 treatment, financing or insurance.