Two young actors died recently, and as of the writing of this post, the circumstances of their deaths are less than definitive. That, however, has not stopped rampant media and public speculation - speculation that centers around drug abuse. The assumptions came quickly. Brad Renfro had numerous run ins with the law and a history of drug problems. Heath Ledger’s body was found near an opened pill bottle. There were reports of accidental overdose or possible suicide. In our 24-hour news cycle, the reports were fast and furious. It’s hard to blame the media, because the public appetite seems to be ravenous. Apparently, we want to know all of the dirt and the details. Add to this cycle the never ending coverage of the Britney saga with its overwhelming narrative of substance abuse and terrifying video of Amy Winehouse openly abusing drugs and we have a moment of monumental public drug overdose.
What’s a parent to do?
I’m not sure, but I think the most important first step might be with our emotional reaction. I don’t feel like turning it into an instant lesson on the dangers of abuse. I don’t feel like accusing the media of sensationalism. And, I don’t feel like vicariously digging through the difficulties of lives that seem like they should be fantastic.
I just feel sad.
I feel sad for Heath Ledger’s family, especially the daughter who will never get to know him. I feel sad for the disappointment that seemed to mark the last years of Brad Renfro’s short life. I feel sad for the family members caught in the wake of Britney and Amy’s struggles and for the fact that those deeply personal struggles are so public. I feel sad that the Associated Press has already begun working on a boilerplate version of Britney’s obituary, just in case she dies soon.
Maybe that’s where we should begin. After all, the lure of drugs is the supposed high they create. But there is one result that seems to be a constant of all drug abuse, no matter what type of initial chemical effect it causes. The overwhelming result always seems to be sadness.
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I find the media’s intense scrutiny of celebrities repulsive. The line between what is personal and/or private has been blurred for years by the press, paparazzi and reality television. If you don’t have cable (which, thank God, I do), you are spoon fed this crap on every channel. I’m not saying that covering these topics isn’t important; I just think that if you’re going to show this stuff, at least focus on helping people, like Celebrity Rehab or Intervention. God bless Brad Renfro and Heath Ledger, both fine actors. It’s a shame they’re no longer with us but, luckily for fans, they will live on through their work in cinema. Sadly, for their friends and families, they will not. I will not presume to know how either of them truly died nor do I completely trust the media to report the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. But I do feel the pressure the media puts on these young starlets oftentimes pushes celebs to their breaking point (a la Britney). In the case of Brad & Heath, it seems their demons may have been internal; all I can do is pray for their families and hope the media does not pray upon their families.