20/20 Looks at Celebrities and Addiction March 28

By admin - Posted on March 28th, 2008

Hollywood High -- "20/20" Reports On Celebrities And Addiction, Friday, March 28 At 10:00 P.M. On ABC

Thursday, March 27, 2008 -- Why do many stars fall into the trap of alcohol and drug addiction? Lately it seems as though more and more celebrities are making headlines for the wrong reasons - some of them are dying and some are heading off to rehab. "20/20" gets insight from several stars who have battled their own addictions, including Daniel Baldwin and the Osbourne kids. What were their struggles? What are the causes and the consequences of Hollywood's drug epidemic? "20/20's" report on the scourge of drugs in Hollywood airs FRIDAY, MARCH 28 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

As the privileged children of Sharon and rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, Jack and Kelly Osbourne bared it all-including drinking and drug use-on national television when their family became the subject of a popular reality show. They speak candidly to Deborah Roberts about drugs, rehab and cleaning up their act. On why she finally stopped, Kelly says: "There was a number of humiliating things that I did... I remember one night being woken up by my mom punching me in the back so that I started breathing again in bed... and it just clicked. As I say, you have to have that realization that you're never gonna win." Jack says that having fame thrust at him at a young age was certainly a factor to his addiction: "I think a lot of it was I felt like it's what I kind of had to do, to a certain degree. It was yeah, I'm a crazy party guy. Look, I'm an Osbourne," he tells Roberts.

Actors Alec, Daniel, Billy and Stephen Baldwin, all fixtures on the gossip pages and red carpet, may seem to live in a different world. But addiction has touched the Baldwin family as well. Last year Daniel Baldwin allowed ABC News to follow his progress through drug rehabilitation for a report that aired in July 2007. "I'm a diehard cokehead," he told Cynthia McFadden at the time, after completing his ninth stint in rehab. In a new interview, Baldwin tells McFadden how he is doing today. Is he winning the battle?

And because of Baldwin's experience with rehab and sobriety, he wants to "give back to others." He helps facilitate an intervention to try to get a young man named Eamon to rehab. Will Baldwin, along with his own sober entourage and Eamon's family, be successful in saving this young man's life? "20/20" is there to document.

"20/20" is anchored by Elizabeth Vargas and John Stossel. David Sloan is executive producer.

Source: ABC

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