Filipino Actors and Actresses with Addiction Problems

So what is Claudine Baretto and Raymart Santiago up to these days? If you still haven’t heard, they’ve been viciously accusing each other of being drug addicts.  By doing so, they’ve unwittingly brought to the spotlight an issue which confronts not only them, but many other celebrities as well.  It is the issue of addiction. 

Substance addiction refers to the compulsive use of brain-altering substances.  For Filipinos, the popular substances are marijuana, shabu, ecstasy, steroids, and cocaine.  Technically, alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine are also addictive brain-altering substances but are culturally and legally permissible to use.  Substance addiction is characterized by the following: 

1.  The addict’s life revolves around acquiring and using the substance.
2. The addict continues to use the substance despite the negative and serious consequences on his or her life.
3. The addict has difficulty in kicking the habit, or worse, does not want to quit.
4. The amount of substance used increases over time.     

Celebrity who has overcome addiction: Catherine Zeta-Jones

Celebrities are no different from ordinary folk in their reasons for using drugs: 

• Marijuana is commonly used as a relaxant or as a catalyst for creativity. 
• Ecstacy is the party-goer’s energizer and libido-booster. 
• Steroids are used by the “body narcissist” to enhance one’s physique. 
• Shabu and cocaine are used for weight loss and also for enhancing one’s energy level, self-confidence, sexual prowess, and/or creativity.

Celebrity who has overcome addiction: Angelina Jolie

The general treatment for substance addiction comes in the forms of drug detoxification and drug rehabilitation.  Drug detoxification is a gentle medical-neurological procedure for ridding the body and brain of the toxic effects of the addictive substance.  Drug rehabilitation is a psychological-behavioral program for eradicating drug cravings, resisting temptations, and preventing relapses. 

Although addicted celebrities apparently need professional help, it is unlikely that they will voluntarily seek it.  They automatically shun the idea of entering a detox and rehab program believing that it will spell doom and disaster for their showbiz career.

Celebrity who has overcome addiction: Johnny Depp

For one, the rehab centers in the Philippines require addicted individuals to be “locked up” from as long as 6 months to 2 years.  Understandably, actors and actresses cannot afford such a lengthy leave of absence from showbiz lest they lose projects and opportunities that could further their careers.  By being out of sight from public eye, their popularity quickly fades and they lose their fans.  Moreover, entering rehab carries with it a stigma that ruins their reputation and their bid for a showbiz comeback.

Being the ‘special people’ that they are, we have to understand that celebrities have special needs, primarily that of protecting their showbiz careers while simultaneously getting professional help for their addiction. In fact, when addicted celebrities approach me for help, they generally request for a detox and rehab program that is “celebrity- friendly.”  Asked what “celebrity-friendly” might mean, they describe it as a program that is individualized for their particular needs, strictly confidential, short-term, and done on an outpatient basis.

Celebrity who has overcome addiction: Oprah Winfrey

For the addicted actors and actresses in our local entertainment industry, all is not lost if they promptly get professional help.  Let them find hope and inspiration in Catherine Zeta-Jones, Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, and Oprah Winfrey.  Not only have these four celebrities successfully “kicked the habit,” they now serve as role models to those people wanting to break free from addiction.