Drew Barrymore is a 23 year old actress, born on February 22,1975. She was born in Los Angeles into a family known for both its thespian talent and personal life difficulties. When Drew was an infant, her parents were told numerous times, she should “get into commercials.”Drew was a very talented little girl. The movie she first appeared in was a minor role in the movie “The Protagonist’s Daughter.” Her main acting career began in 1982 when she was cast as “Gertie” in Steven Spielberg’s science-fiction movie “E.T.: The Extraterrestrial.” This movie was one of the most popular films of all time. This great achievement pushed Barrymore to stardom and was now known as a “Child Star”. Throughout the 80’s she worked steadily, appearing in more films and T.V movies.
This young star grew up in a very tough Hollywood lifestyle. She attended many late night parties, publicity events, and clubs. She also was known as “E.T.’s pal, Gertie, parties ‘till 3.” Soon Drew started smoking, sneaking sips of her older friends’ drinks, and experimenting with drugs. As her drug use and drinking grew more addicting, she could hardly hide it from the outside world.
Drew first started using cocaine when she was 13 years old, at the time she didn’t think she would become addicted to the drug. But she was mistaken, before long she found herself using increasingly large quantities of the drug. Drew’s mother became concerned and dragged Drew to a Family Treatment Center, in Van Nuys, California. Drew attended many therapy sessions with other patients her own age. She spent only 12 days in the hospital and proved she was satisfied with the program. She left the hospital early, due to a prior commitment for a shoot in Nevada.This shoot had to travel to New York City, where, after more than 2 months of sobriety; Drew craved for cocaine and immediately fell back into her terrible habits.
Her mother hired two private agents to track down Drew, they found her and a friend and returned them in handcuffs to the hospital. Drew finally thought to make her recovery her top priority, and she was forced to admit she had hit rock bottom. After 3 months stay she had made much progress and was discharged. Barrymore was threatened to tell her story world wide by doing this it influenced her to want to help other troubled young adults.
You know she's a Jackson. And you know she's a singer. Of course, you know the girl can dance. You know she's a leading lady in Hollywood. And maybe you still think of her as a cute little girl with a famous last name and big , bright eyes. Do you think she's what she was yesterday? Better think again. As many of her other fans and followers already know, the only label that fits her is… Janet.
Gold, Todd. “The Secret Drew Barrymore.” - Substance Abuse, Coping and Overcoming Illness, Drew Barrymore : People.com. People, 16 Jan. 1989. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.
“Just Say No!” A statement that takes us deep into yet another decade in the history of the United States which was excited by controversies, social issues, and drug abuse. The topic of this statement is fueled by the growing abuse of cocaine in the mid 1980s. I shall discuss the effects of the crack cocaine epidemic of the mid 1980s from a cultural and social stand point because on that decade this country moved to the rhythms and the pace of this uncanny drug. Cocaine took its told on American society by in the 1980s; it ravaged with every social group, race, class, etc. It reigned over the United States without any prejudices. Crack cocaine was the way into urban society, because of its affordability in contrast to the powdered form. In society the minorities were the ones most affected by the growing excess of crime and drug abuse, especially African Americans; so the question was “Why was nearly everybody convicted in California federal court of crack cocaine trafficking black?” (Webb: Day 3). The growing hysteria brought forth many questions which might seem to have concrete answers, but the fact of the matter is they are all but conspiracy in the end, even though it does not take away the ambiguity and doubt. I will take on only a few topics from the vast array of events and effects this period in time had tended to. Where and who this epidemic seemed to affect more notably, and perhaps how the drugs came about such territories and people. What actions this countries authority took to restore moral sanity, and how it affected people gender wise.
One of the main themes in That 70’s show is that the show addresses many of the social issues of the 1970’s. These issues include the following prejudice, sexual attitudes, generational issues, the money-making hardships of the 1970’s downturn, suspicion of the American government by blue-collar workers, and the main one that will be focused on in this paper teenage drug use and the use of alcohol. Throughout the series of That 70’s show the main characters are often seen either smoking marijuana or doing other types of drugs. They do not show the characters doing these things directly however, an audience member can tell that they are using these drugs or smoking. Throughout the paper famous examples from the show will be mentioned especially how the characters don’t actually show the audience they are either smoking or taking drugs.
It caused a big exodus from drugs. And for me there was the baby coming. I knew I couldn't be a father and live that sort of life"("Robin Williams Enters Rehab for Alcohol" 1). Williams later stated, "Cocaine is God's way of saying you're making too much money"(Lanford
Janet Jackson was born in Gary Indiana on May 16, 1966. She is a member of the
In Less Than Zero, cocaine addiction tests a group of three friends against the backdrop of glamorous, 1980’s Los Angeles. I chose this film because I’ve read the novel by Bret Easton Ellis. While the movie differs quite a bit from the book, it still touches on some key points about drug use that Ellis speaks to in the novel. At the beginning of the film, Clay, Julian, and Blair have graduated high school in Beverly Hills. Clay chooses to leave and attend a prestigious university. Blair (Clay’s girlfriend) stays in Los Angeles because she is too afraid to go to school. Julian’s father gives him a large sum of money to start his own recording studio. By Thanksgiving, Clay returns to Los Angeles to find Julian and Blair sleeping together. At
He may just seem like another rapper to you but if you actually listen to his lyrics you can see he’s not like any rapper out there. His name is Kanye West and he was born in Chicago Illinois. He grew up in the “ghetto” and learned to appreciate life. He didn’t learn to really, truly appreciate life until October of 2002. Driving back to his hotel late one night after a recording session, the new-coming rap/hip-hop artist was involved in a devastating, near fatal car accident. The crash left him with a broken jaw in three places and an appreciation for life. Just weeks after being released from the hospital he recorded his first major hit, “Through the Wire,” with his mouth still wired shut. He records every song like its going to be his last song and that makes every song better than the last. He’s not only a rap artist but also a producer. He has been responsible for being behind songs like Jay-Z’s Izzo, Girls, Girls, Girls, The Takeover, and 03 Bonnie and Clyde.
For this reason, she indulged in drugs, to release her from the drama and unhappiness in her life. Drugs do not solve the problem, it makes things even worse, because one is focused on numbing themselves from the pain, so that they can still manage their everyday lives. There is nothing wrong with having no inhibitions and just letting go of everything that consumes you. I believe that if Whitney could have established her identity at an early age and freed herself from the pressures of her family and media, that she would still be alive and happy.
Oprah Winfrey is not only the richest woman in the world, but she is also is known to be one of the most influential black women to ever live in the United States. She is a person “who has become successful and spread it around to those who need it the most” (Oprah 76). She has opened many different foundations to help others, For example, the Oprah Winfrey foundation. As if that already wasn’t enough she made a networking site called Oprah angel, what it does is help raise money for charitable causes around the world. In 2000 Oprah Decided to not only help others with Physical and financial problems, she wanted to go one step further. She published her own magazine called “O” that would give woman advice with how she deals with the same situations that woman do in their everyday lives. One of Oprahs greatest works is a leadership Academy that she established. It is a school in Africa that will prepare students for what awaits them on the other side of those doors. “It is a place where young girls will have the opportunity improve the quality of life for their sisters, and for generations to come” (Owla 12-13).
Rosa Lee Cunningham is a 52-year old African American female. She is 5-foot-1-inch, 145 pounds. Rosa Lee is married however, is living separately from her husband. She has eight adult children, Bobby, Richard, Ronnie, Donna (Patty), Alvin, Eric, Donald (Ducky) and one child who name she did not disclose. She bore her eldest child at age fourteen and six different men fathered her children. At Rosa Lee’s recent hospital admission to Howard University Hospital emergency room blood test revealed she is still using heroin. Though Rosa Lee recently enrolled in a drug-treatment program it does not appear that she has any intention on ending her drug usage. When asked why she no longer uses heroin she stated she doesn’t always have the resources to support her addiction. Rosa Lee is unemployed and receiving very little in government assistance. She appears to
David Sheff starts the story of his family with Nic’s birth and goes all the way long to the present days when his son had survived several years of drug abuse, rehabilitations and relapses. Sheff confesses that his son started to use different kinds of drugs when he was very young. At the age of 11 he would try alcohol and some pot. “In early May, I pick Nic up after school one day …When he climbs into a car I smell cigarette smoke. I lecture him and he promises not to do it again. Next Friday after school…I am packing an overnight bag for him and look for a sweater in his backpack. I do not find a sweater, but instead discover a small bag of marijuana.” (Sheff, 200...
Modern society has made a sub-culture that lives in a reality that is not real. It is so far from the truth that the inhabitants of this sub-culture so often cannot live in both realities and have become a spectacle for others to marvel at. This sub-culture is made up of entertainers, millionaires, and athletes. The people in this group can range from newborns to death and some live on well after. The specimens that I find an interest in are the young ones that enter into this society not knowing well that their lives will never be the same. Britney Spears was just another victim of the society that brings into their prison.
Williams, Terry. 1989. The Cocaine Kids: The Inside Story of a Teenage Drug Ring. New York: Da Capo Press.
Downey was born and raised into a family of actors and actresses. His father Robert Downey Sr. was a famous actor in the 1960s and his mother Elsie was an actress that helped inspire him to get into the acting field. Downey was only thirteen years old when his parent divorced. He ended up moving to Los Angeles with his father. At age sixteen Downey made the decision to drop out of school and move back to New York with his mother. In the 1980s Downey had his life together and was featured in many movies, such as Baby It’s You, Firstborn, Weird Science, and Back to school. Soon after Downey became a huge hit in the acting career his struggle with substance abuse started to get worse.