Alcohol, Drugs, and Celebrities: Britney Spears. Quiet Desperation It's Not

by DJ Diebold, CAC, LISAC

If William Shakespeare was right, that "most people live lives of quiet desperation", he certainly wasn't thinking about anyone like Britney Spears. Quiet it's not. Drugs, alcohol and millions at one's disposal, once again prove that ex-Beatle, Paul McCartney's "Can't Buy Me Love" hits the nail on the head, albeit hung over.

No, there's certainly no shortage of examples. Most recently the sad death of actor Heath Ledger highlights the be-careful-what-you-ask-for mantra. Us "boomers" saw it with Jimi Hendricks, Janis Joplin and a plethora of others, underscored and highlighted by Marilyn of Hollywood and Camelot fame.

As a behavioral health therapist and substance abuse counselor, I see this carnage on a daily basis, sans the big bucks. It doesn't take any "talent" to create this nightmare. Insecure, "stage door" parents doom their children from the get-go. This won't stop until "children" stop giving birth to children. And when might that be? That might be when "mature" adults stop allowing their libidos to predict their futures. Self-control has its own rewards and living vicariously through our children isn't any form of it.

On the Internet, there were literally thousands of comments from the public regarding one of the latest stories on Britney's escapades. I was pleased, and a bit surprised, that most were compassionate in regard to the mess she's in. Her parents are attempting to wrest control of their daughter from the claws of her money managers, who seem intent on maintaining their death grip at all costs, until the last drop of her fiscal blood is spent. I'm not a Bible buff, but I believe the only time Jesus became violent was in an example of "just anger" when he physically threw the "money changers" out of the Temple. It seems likely there will indeed be a "special" place for those of this ilk.

In the meantime, Britney's behavioral "health" wanes. Dad has stepped in and is at least attempting to bring some sanity to his daughter's life. One Internet comment read, "Her reins were made too long a long time ago, and now her parents are trying to right a wrong. Either way, kudos to someone other than a hanger-on, for trying to help this young lady get her life back in order. Too many people have nudged their behinds into her life to grab a piece of her 'pie', and this gal doesn't know a good one from bad. Her family needs to intervene NOW, and get this kid back on a decent path, even if it means no more Holly-Weird."

Speaking of Hollywood, this would seem a good time to enter a professional behavioral health specialist, so who shows up? The public knows precisely who: Dr. Phil. Enter our knight in shining armor. Jealousy, you ask? Hardly. I've made my diagnostic and prognostic mistakes, but I wasn't foolish enough to do it in front of a plethora of cameras and salivating "journalists". I saw the show where he attempted to explain himself. Pitiful comes to mind.

It appears that dad is faced with the daunting task of leading the horse to water and attempting to make her drink it. All I can say is good luck; you might be the first to actually accomplish this task. Until then, our heroine in distress might take stock in another lyric of quest. The rock band, The Who, stated it quite succinctly in one of their mega-hits, entitled "Who Are You?" She desperately needs to find out and until then, this beautiful young woman will continue to sauté herself in a brine of alcohol, drugs, faux praise, self-serving advice and the dizzying effects of unbridled power. Britney, who's your daddy now?

D.J. Diebold, CAC, LISAC is a state licensed substance abuse therapist and behavioral health provider and can be reached at DieboldBehavioralCounseling.com or at dj[at]asktheinternettherapist.com.