Perhaps it’s worth giving Amy Winehouse her own spot on Community Care’s website?
No, I’m not being facetious (moi?) but with news that the singer is not appearing at next month’s MTV Music Awards, and her US record label cancelling all her American appearances “in a continued effort to support Amy Winehouse’s well-being” concerned social care professionals may wish to check on her progress.
The trouble with celebrities like Winehouse (Pete Doherty also springs to mind) is that their fame hides the harsh reality of drug misuse. They somehow make misusing drugs exciting and glamorous – which is not the case for the 421 people who died from drug-related deaths in Scotland last year.
According to the latest figures from the General Register Office for Scotland, this is a 25% increase in the number of drug-related deaths compared with 2005. Heroin or morphine was involved in 62% of deaths, with 23% of deaths involving methadone. Scottish Parliament Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill said the issue was one of the “most significant problems of our time”.
He also said that the Scottish government is taking a fresh new look at drug supply and demand as a means to addressing it, as well as an emphasis on diversion and prevention by offering young people more opportunities in the arts and sports.
All of these aims are laudable. However, when pop stars like Winehouse continue to glamourise drugs I can’t help but feel any government is fighting a losing battle.