This past week, country starlet Mindy McCready made headlines after the 37-year-old mother of two took her own life at her home in Arkansas. The “Ten Thousand Angels” singer, who rose to fame in the 1990s, eventually became better known for her tumultuous relationships and bouts of substance abuse. Even so, her death came as a shock to her loved ones, as well as fans across the country.
McCready’s struggle with prescription pill addiction and alcohol abuse – both of which she faced criminal charges for – had threatened her life in the past. In 2010, McCready appeared on the reality TV show “Celebrity Rehab,” where she and other addicts in the public eye received treatment from Dr. Drew Pinsky and other professional interventionists and addiction specialists.
Though it appeared that McCready’s time on the show had truly helped her face her addictions, the star has seen a steady stream of tragedy recently that many believe contributed to a relapse. A month ago, her boyfriend – record producer David Wilson – ended his life. According to reports, the father of one of McCready’s two children, Billy McKnight, then sought to obtain custody of his son out of concern for the singer’s psychological state.
Dr. Drew Pinsky told CNN that he reached out to the troubled star when he heard about Wilson’s death. However, though he encouraged her to “enter a facility if she needed it,” she was reportedly reluctant to do so.
“Her biggest fear was the stigma of doing so and what people would think if she, God forbid, took care of herself. And this to me is the most distressing part of this story,” he told the news outlet.
If someone you care about is struggling with addiction, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless. However, you don’t have to stand idly by. By holding a substance abuse intervention with the help of a professional interventionist, you can help your loved one take the first step toward recovery.