People News

Promises' Dr. David Sack reflects on grip of addiction for Amy Winehouse

By April MacIntyre Jul 24, 2011, 17:22 GMT

Amy Winehouse - London Premiere - Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Square - London, UK © Landmark / PR Photos

Singer Amy Winehouse famously sang she wouldn't go to rehab, yet struggled mightily with a drug and alcohol addiction.

Ms. Winehouse was unable to stick with any of her attempts to get sober, and those around her were unable to keep her from harming herself further.  The entire Roman Candle intensity that was her short but brilliant career as a smoky jazz vocalist with a modern edge fizzled out too soon.

In an exclusive interview with ABC News, Dr. David Sack, CEO of Promises Treatment Center in Los Angeles, Calif spoke candidly about the tragedy: "I think she minimized the extent to which her life was impacted by drugs and alcohol...She was denying the extent to which it affected her."

Ms. Winehouse admitted that she suffered from depression, and self-medicated because she believed herself to be manic-depressive.

Dr. Sack noted that the hardest step was for someone like Amy to separate themselves from the familiar, the enablers and the ease of access to their "medicine" of choice: "Most who are drug dependent are afraid to seek treatment," said Sack. "Winehouse did better than many others by trying."

"Drugs get glamorized in the creative community," said Sack to ABC News. "There's a lifestyle situation that creates an environment where it's acceptable."

Ms. Winehouse was reportedly working on another album.

"It is clear that she was hopeful she'd be well enough to make another album," said Sack. "She was looking to do better."

"She wanted more than she was getting in her life," said Sack.