We hear about it all the time: a star battles addiction for years and works desperately to get their life back on track only to wind up ultimately losing the battle due to their inability to control themselves. What makes the tragic case of deceased actress, Lisa Robin Kelly, best known for her role in the popular sitcom, “That 70’s Show” is that on its face, it seems that her death could have been prevented from the rehab facility that was supposed to be taking care of her.
I grew up watching “That 70’s Show” and was shocked and saddened to hear of her death, especially so soon after Glee star, Cory Montieth died from battling similar demons. I’ve been sober for three years now, and it kills me whenever I see someone who can’t get help in time. At first you have to ask yourself: “How many more celebrities are going to let substance abuse get the better of them?” But it seems like there’s more to Lisa’s death than just inability to control her alcohol abuse. Before entering rehab, for what would turn out to be the last time, she seemed more committed than ever to getting back to her career. She even voluntarily checked herself into treatment.
It’s premature to place definitive blame at this point because the exact circumstances are still unclear, but it seems like her treatment facility should have been able to prevent this type of tragedy from occurring at their rehab. They certainly had to been aware of the risks that chronic alcoholic patients might suffer a severe alcohol withdrawal. When the police tell you that her blood alcohol was a potentially fatal level one would imagine that a rehab would be prepared for any such eventuality from happening on their watch. The one fact that is known at this point is she had a severe drinking problem and she checked herself into their alcohol rehab for help . . . not to die. As a recovering addict myself, I know the importance of choosing a sensitive and quality treatment program. I can only think that maybe if she had gotten help from a different (non-celebrity)rehab . . . that was more concerned about patient safety, than if their rehab’s cook was a Cordon Bleu chef, there might have been a different ending to this story.
Unfortunately, too many celebrity rehab stories often share the same ending; a tragic premature rolling of the credits on a life that started out with so much promise.
