All articles tagged with #substance abuse
Daveigh Chase, the voice of Lilo in Disney’s Lilo & Stitch and star of The Ring, died at 35 in a Los Angeles hospital; the Los Angeles County medical examiner listed AIDS as the cause and chronic polysubstance use as a significant condition, with the family noting struggles with drugs, homelessness, meningitis and a blood infection.
Oprah Winfrey revealed she stopped cameras and urged secrecy after Whitney Houston’s onstage fall during a The Oprah Winfrey Show appearance, doing so to shield Houston as she battled relapse; Houston later performed but died in 2012, with the estate noting the fall occurred during a sound check and that she was not high. The disclosure comes alongside broader discussions of Houston’s struggles and Winfrey’s interview approach.
Michigan is seeing a rising problem with nitrous oxide (whippets), as large, easily accessible canisters sold at gas stations and shops lead to more people experiencing numbness, weakness, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Emergency room visits and EMS calls for nitrous oxide injuries surged from 2019 to 2023, with continued increases through 2024–2026. Health officials warn of serious risks including vitamin B12 inactivation, brain and nerve damage, and psychiatric effects, despite 2024 bans on devices that facilitate inhalation and a 2025 FDA advisory. Experts call for better screening in medical settings and stronger restrictions on nitrous oxide sales.
In a four-part YouTube interview published four days before his death, former NFL star Aldon Smith discussed having 'definitely had better days' and struggling to accept parts of his life after football, recounting a difficult post-career period including a roofing job and heartbreak, while expressing gratitude; the cause of death, announced June 13, has not been disclosed.
Former NFL defensive end/linebacker Aldon Smith, 36, was found slumped in a friend’s car and died at a San Jose hospital. In a prior YouTube interview, he said he’d “definitely had better days” and spoke about ongoing struggles he’d faced for much of his life, a candid moment amid a career marked by off‑field issues and suspensions before later returning to play for the Cowboys in 2020.
Former 49ers star Aldon Smith, 36, was found dead in a friend’s car in Los Gatos and pronounced at a San Jose hospital; the Santa Clara County medical examiner has not yet determined the cause of death, and Smith’s history of substance-abuse issues and suspensions is noted alongside tributes from the 49ers.
Lola Young revealed she is in ongoing drugs recovery, sharing that she’s been to rehab twice and spent time in a holistic facility during her hiatus; she now attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and emphasizes that recovery is a continuing process that has influenced her life and music.
Shia LaBeouf was filmed in a Rome hotel lobby in his underwear, asking a desk clerk for a light as onlookers watch; the incident comes amid his court-ordered substance-abuse treatment and a history of erratic behavior, with TMZ reporting on the video and the Guardian noting his past incidents.
Robert Cosby Jr., 23, the son of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby, has died amid an overdose investigation. Mary Cosby publicly mourned him on Instagram, and Bravo offered condolences. Cosby had a history of substance use and legal issues discussed in recent RHOSLC seasons.
Robert Cosby Jr., 23, the son of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby, died in Utah after a possible overdose; authorities say the death is under investigation by the medical examiner. Mary Cosby shared a faith-filled message of comfort. Cosby had a history of mental health and substance-abuse struggles and recent legal issues, prompting reactions from cast members and fans.
In resurfaced Instagram Live clips, Ray J says doctors have told him he has months to live due to deteriorating heart health, attributing it to years of heavy alcohol use and Adderall. He says his sister Brandy is paying his bills for the rest of the year and he plans to seek treatment in Haiti, all amid ongoing legal drama with wife Princess Love and a restraining order.
A former Nickelodeon child star, Tylor Chase, has reportedly fallen into homelessness, sleeping behind a plank on his mother’s California porch amid ongoing addiction and mental-health struggles. Family and media reports describe bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, past rehab refusals, and a history of public attention and outreach, while authorities say he is not wanted for crimes.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services briefly cut grants for mental health and substance-use programs, prompting confusion among recipients, then quickly reinstated the funding, highlighting policy volatility in federal health programs.
The Department of Health and Human Services reinstated $2 billion in funding for SAMHSA’s mental health and substance-use programs after canceling it the day before, following pushback from physicians, advocates, and lawmakers who urged a more cautious, stable approach to health policy.
The Trump administration is slashing nearly $2 billion in federal funding for more than 2,000 programs that provide addiction prevention, treatment, recovery and mental health services, with SAMHSA notices effective immediately as the agency shifts priorities toward innovative interventions to combat rising mental illness, overdose, and suicide.