Addict Profile: Amy Winehouse

Amy Jade Winehouse was born on September 14, 1983 in Enfield, London, England. Her father drove taxi for a living while her mother was a pharmacist. Winehouse was an extremely rebellious girl from the get-go, her parents reported. At the age of 14, she was thrown out of Sylvia Young Theatre School... so she pierced and tattooed her body. She began her professional career at the young age of 16, playing gigs at clubs for a very low cost. Over the next several years, she survived at time of pain, personal unheaval, and a relationship with substance abuse.

She spent the majority of her career trying to get out of rehab. She even sang about it in her hit song, "Rehab." During the last couple years of her life, it seemed the public was hearing more about her drug abuse and less about her singing. That's because we were! In 2005, she struggled with heavy drinking, heavy drug use, and violent mood swings. The more successful she became, the further into drugs she fell. In August of 2007, Winehouse cancelled a great deal of shows in the UK and Europe; she said it was due to exhaustion and heath problems. Shortly after, she was hospitalized for overdose of heroin, ecstacy, cocaine, ketamine, and alcohol. Talk about a deadly combination!!

Winehouse did tell the magazines that the drugs were to blame for the hospitialization and that she "really thought it was over for me at the time."

In January 2008, she entered rehab again after a video on the internet of her smoking crack cocaine became a big hit. Sounds to me like she was crying out for help. In September of 2008, she was photographed revealing cuts on her arms and legs. Rumors of relapse began to spread.

On May 25, 2011, she checked herself back into rehab. On the way, she stopped at a liquor store, bought vodka, and downed it right in front of the store clerk. Poor girl. She only remained in rehab for one week before she signed out AMA.

On July 23, 2011, two ambulences rushed to her apartment at 3:54pm. Shortly afterward, the police confirmed her death. She was only 27 years young. Clearly, Amy's battle with addiction led to an early death. She was constantly in and out of rehab but she never really committed to the program - to getting clean. She wasn't willing to go to any length for her sobriety. She will go down as a successful artist and her voice won't soon be forgotten.

I admire Amy. She's one of my heroes. While she did not win the battle with addiction, she tried. I know first hand how hard it can be sometimes. Amy, you have a special place in my heart. Rest in sweet peace<3