Celebrity Rehab: Is Working in Entertainment Industry Hazardous to Your Health?

Celebrity Rehab: Is Working in Entertainment Industry Hazardous to Your Health?

Seems like almost every day we hear about so and so celebrity checking into a Drug Rehab. Charlie Sheen (and his wife), Lindsay Lohan, Tiger Woods, Britney Spears, Michael Douglas, Nick Nolte, Robin Williams, and the list goes on.

Is there a higher frequency of drug and alcohol abuse amongst the “stars” than us regular folk?  According to the latest statistics published in 2007 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on Worker Substance Use and Workplace Policies and Programs, those working in the “Entertainment, Sports and Media” occupational category are in the top occupations for highest reported use of drugs and alcohol. The information contained in the report relates to full-time workers aged 18 to 64 based on face-to-face interviews conducted form 2002-2004 with a representative sample of the US population.

Illicit Drug Use in the report is defined as use of  marijuana or hashish, cocaine (including crack), inhalants, hallucinogens including phencyclidine [PCP], lysergic acid diethylamide [LSD] and Ecstasy [MDMA]), heroin, or prescription-type psychotherapeutics used non-medically, which includes stimulants, sedatives, tranquilizers and pain relievers, used 30 days prior to the interview.

Heavy Alcohol Use is defined as drinking five or more drinks on the same occasion (i.e., at the same time or within a couple of hours of each other) on each of 5 or more days in the 30 days prior to the interview

According to the survey, 12.4% of those surveyed working in the Entertainment and Sports Media occupation report illicit drug use versus the average of 8.2%. Interestingly, the percentage of those reporting heavy alcohol uses in this occupation was less than the average at 7.5% versus 8.8%. Compare this to the top categories of Construction and Extraction workers which report 15.1% substance use and 17.8% heavy alcohol use and Food Service, Preparation and bar workers at 17.4% illicit drug use and 12.1% heavy alcohol use. The lowest is Community and Social Service workers at 4.0% drugs and 2.8% alcohol.

Another interesting and somewhat related fact is that the highest rates of suicide are among Health Care workers. The reason given is that they have greater and easier access to prescription drugs and controlled substances. Most likely those in the Entertainment industry have easy access to illegal drugs which in turns leads to greater likelihood of use.

However does that mean that their chosen occupation is the cause of their use and subsequent need for drug and alcohol rehab. Not really. Rehab costs money and rehab takes time. Something that those in the entertainment industry have more of assuming they are working, making money and having time between “gigs”. Regular working folks usually have one or the other, time or money but not both at the same time. Also entertainers and sports stars have more exposure and scrutiny in the public eye which makes them more likely to seek help because they have been literally caught in the act.

Entertainers are in a high risk occupation for alcohol and drug use, but the frequency and use of rehab treatment is something of a luxury item and status symbol when it really should be available and affordable for all those in need.