They are listing all the hollywood types who have died from medical drug overdoses

[applegrove]

in the last five years (prescription drug abuse). The list is long. I think the abuse has much to do with how thin people in hollywood have had to be in last few years. Men need washboard stomaches, women - no thighs. Seems the prescription drugs are more dangerous than traditional elicit drugs.

[nolabear]

1. Prescription drugs are dangerous. Period.

I hate that there's a general attitude that taking a medication, any medication, is just a matter of course and is no biggie. Your organs are taxed, the side effects are unpredictable, the combined effects can be deadly and people are just terrible at taking them correctly. I totally respect their necessity sometimes and they've saved countless lives and killed countless pains. But man, if you can get off of them, do. They are not your friend.

[mucifer]

3. But sometimes narcotics are necessary. Many people who want to die comfortably at home

need narcotics so they don't suffer from tumors growing and growing and growing. Think about it. Not all people with cancer get cured. When you have all that crap growing in your body it can be insanely painful. If the doctors are very well train in comfort care, narcotics can be given safely without shortening lives. There is clinical research that backs it up. http://www.health.am/ab/more/opioid-use-at-end-of-life/

[RebelOne]

2. Who is they? Link please. n/t

[applegrove]

4. Heath Ledger, Britanny Murphy, Amy Whinehouse, Whitney, amongst others. Was on CNN.

[XemaSab]

5. I freely admit that I am not educated about these things

but I think for jobs where partying is part of the job, it would be really hard to not become an addict or develop problems.

For example, becoming a rock musician usually involves late nights at clubs or venues, and there's often some sort of party after the concert. If everyone else is drinking and doing drugs, being the person who says "I'm going back to the hotel and I'm going to be asleep by 11:30" would not only not be popular, but it would take near-superhuman effort, especially for someone in their late teens or early 20s.

Similarly, I think that acting involves a lifestyle where schmoozing is a big part of the job. If you're an A-list actor, you can't just stay home at night.