People News

Whitney Houston's past could have contributed to death, addiction psychiatrist weighs in

By April MacIntyre Feb 12, 2012, 17:31 GMT

02/12/2011 - Whitney Houston and daughter Bobbi Kristina - Whitney reportedly had a prescription for Xanax, which is commonly used to treat anxiety and depression. © Andrew Evans / PR Photos

Iconic pop singer Whitney Houston died yesterday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. She was 48 years-old.

TMZ.com is reporting it may have been a conflict with prescribed Xanax and alcohol usage, based on the evidence that she may have fallen asleep in the bathtub where she died.

Whitney reportedly had a prescription for Xanax, which is commonly used to treat anxiety and depression.

Unfortunately it was also reported by TMZ that Whitney had been observed drinking heavily the days before too. Xanax and alcohol are a known lethal combination.

The L.A. County Coroner to determine if Whitney died from drowning, and OD or a combination of other causes.

What is known is that no other illegal drugs were reportedly found in the hotel room where Whitney Houston died.

Singer Tony Bennett spoke just hours after the passing of Whitney Houston, and said it was time to legalize drugs.

TMZ reported that Bennett performed at the Beverly Hilton last night Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party, in an evening dedicated to Houston. Bennett told the crowd, "First it was Michael Jackson, then Amy Winehouse, now the magnificent Whitney Houston. Let's legalize drugs, like Amsterdam, it's a very sane city now."

Davis, Houston's mentor and producer, remembered her by saying, "Whitney was a beautiful person and she had a talent beyond compare. She graced this stage ... so many times. So simply put: Whitney would have wanted the music to go on."

Jennifer Hudson will honor Houston at tonight's Grammy Awards.

Noted addiction psychiatrist and and CEO of top-rated Promises Treatment Centers Dr. David Sack has been a frequent contributor to Monsters and Critics on issues of addiction and recovery. 

Dr. Sack believes that over time, the alleged past drug demons of cocaine use could have played a part in the problems Whitney Houston faced.

"Treating addiction requires more than treating someone’s brain chemistry,” according to David Sack, M.D., "It may be days or weeks until we know for sure what ended Ms. Houston's life. Given her long struggle with cocaine it is certainly possible that health problems arising from long term use may have contributed even if she remained clean and sober. Hypertension, heart, lung and liver disease can follow former users. Cocaine dependency carries with it a high risk for relapse and even those who have been successful in their treatment are at risk. In contrast with alcoholism and opiate dependency where there are medicines that can help with treatment, there are none for cocaine. Psychotherapy and 12 step recovery programs like NA can make a difference but many people continue to struggle. Cocaine addiction is not about a lack of will. Studies have shown conclusively that more than half the risk is do to genetics. Given our limited clinical tools to face this problem, we should not be harsh when someone as beloved as Ms. Houston is able to get things right at some times and not at others."