Brittany Murphy DIES! Was it Drugs or an Eating Disorder?

Actress Brittany Murphy passed away on Sunday morning in Los Angeles at the age of 32.

Her husband Simon Monjack is outraged at the rumors that his wife died from a drug overdose or causes related to an eating disorder.

People just don't typically die at 32 of natural causes!

Murphy reportedly went into full cardiac arrest and her husband, immediately called paramedics to save his wife.

Murphy was announced dead on arrival at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after paramedics and doctors could not revive the 8 Mile actress.

Our thoughts are with her family and friends during this extremely difficult time.

Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers

Prescription Drugs are Now The #1 Killer of Teens!

For the first time in many Years Alcohol related deaths involving a motor vehicle is not the #1 killer of teens. Accidental overdose of prescription drugs like Oxycontin and Xanax is!

Click here for information about Adolescent Drug Treatment in Malibu.

DJ AM Found Dead

Adam Goldstein, aka DJ AM was found dead in his New York City apartment of a suspected drug overdose. Drug paraphernalia was found near his body. Celebrity disc jockey Goldstein, who narrowly escaped death in a plane crash nearly a year ago, had at one point attempted suicide to escape addiction, but entered treatment and maintained sobriety for ten years. Prescription drugs were found throughout his apartment and a crack pipe was reportedly found near his body.
Goldstein was a good friend to many people and many recovering addicts are coming forward to recognize how much he helped them in their sobriety. It is truly sad to know that addiction resurfaced and took a person that helped so many people. In his last Twitter post, Goldstein quoted a Grandmaster Flash song: “New York, New York. Big city of dreams, but everything in New York ain’t always what it seems.”

Unintentional Deaths From Prescription Opiates Rise

The National Drug Control Policy recently reported that unintentional deaths from prescription opiates, like Oxycontin, increased by 114% between 2001 and 2005. In 2006, accidental deaths from overdoses exceeded those by firearms and were second to car-accidents in the United States. Reports from across the country all point to the ever-increasing risks of teen prescription drug abuse in the United States. These alarming numbers point to the need for increased awareness and treatment of this epidemic.

Perhaps it is the perception that these medications aren’t as dangerous to use as say, crack or heroin. The numbers say otherwise. I now recognize that my drug abuse was just as bad and deadly as the junkie downtown. The decision to ask for help and enter teen drug treatment can be a very difficult one, but it is not nearly as difficult as trying to maintain a life of active addiction. In residential treatment, adolescents are given new tools to help deal with not only the acute problem of drug and alcohol abuse, but the underlying issues that drive them to use in the first place.

If you suspect your teen is struggling with teen prescription drug abuse don’t hesitate to contact us.

Testimonial From a Greatful Family

Dear Visions,

Craig graduated from Transitional Living in Tucson, Arizona on April 29. He entered the In Balance program immediately upon leaving Visions on June 22, 2008. The staff of Visions helped craig to lay a foundation upon which to build a life. He learned by working with Celeste and others that he had a right to a life, that he could be forgiven for his past and did not have to live the rest of his life defined by his failures. We learned, as a family, how to communicate with honesty. I learned how to let others take responsibility for their own decisions without trying to cushion the blow.

We sent Craig to Visions on February 15, 2008 with one prayer...that he would not die of a deliberate or accidental drug overdose. The road he was on surely lead to that end. The outcome for Craig has been so much more than we would have even dared hope for. He has been sober since he entered Visions. We would have liked to bring Mike home when he left Visions. I am so thankful that we listened to Celeste's recommendation and had Craig continue in a structured recovery program. The staff at In Balance has helped him to build upon the foundation that was laid at Visions andcraig has begun to build a beautiful life for himself.

He has decided to stay in Tucson where he has a very strong support network of friends in recovery and an amazing sponsor. Craig is also sponsoring a young man in recovery, He will get his high school diploma on May 21 and plans to enroll at Pima Community College. He will begin working towards his associate's degree in Social Work with a concentration in Chemical Dependency Counseling this summer. He is on staff at In Balance's Intensive Outpatient Program and at the In Balance Ranch, a therapeutic boarding school working part-time as an aide.

Of course Craig's recovery and growth hasn't been a constant upwards line. There have been periods where we all; Craig, his dad, and I took three steps forward and two steps backward. However, we have all continued on a path of recovery and growth. Each of us can say with certainty that, although we don't know what lies ahead, we know how far we have come and we never want to go back again.

There are no words that can convey our gratitude for the fact that on February 15, 2008 a young man who seemed destined to self-destruct is now a young man with a purpose who is planning for his future with optimism and a desire to be of service to others!

As inadequate as the words are, thank you.

Sincerely,

A Grateful Mother

Click here to contact us for more info regarding adolescent drug treatment