Amy Winehouse looked a little confused but comparatively well put-together when she arrived at the Stapleford Centre in London today, which is supposedly a “rehab” in West London.
I checked out their website, and they seem to be less of an inpatient rehab and more of a detox and naltrexone distribution center. They specifically state that they don’t take a 12-step approach to dealing with addiction.
Jesus, I think they’re just injecting this girl with naltrexone and praying for the best.
Update:
So I’ve spent some more time perusing this place’s website, and I just keep getting angrier.
From the “Our Ethos” page:
So, you have a drug problem! [Ed: I’m not kidding, it actually starts like that.] There are various reasons why you might have one and it may or may not be your fault in some sense, but as far as we are concerned, you have a problem now and you need help. We are not about to make a moral judgement on your problem; we are just interested in finding a way for you to go forward. The first objective will be to get you stable, functional and legal. Naturally, the best option is usually to get drug-free if you can but if it is not practicable in the short term or you can not contemplate it, then maintenance is a good option for now.
…
If we can get you clean we will, and that is always our primary aim; but if we believe your chances of success are very slim, we will tell you. There is no point in setting yourself up for failure at great expense. It is often better to wait for the right time when you are prepared and stable and likely to succeed.
Drug and alcohol problems are personal and individual things in the way they start, how they continue, and what treatment approach works. This is why we treat you as an individual and tailor the treatment option to your needs. We do not use a ‘one size fits all’ or ‘take it or leave it’ approach. We try to be flexible, eclectic and sensible in our approach to your problem. Your life may have caused you to take drugs or the drugs may have caused you life problems and this web may need to be untangled and general life issues discussed and advised upon. ‘Timing is everything’, and you will change with time and so will your needs. We like to maintain regular contact with our patients and offer a forum to discuss just about anything that may have a bearing on the drug or alcohol problems.
OMG!
Translation:
So you’re a crack addict!
That’s so sad. :(
What we’re going to do is help you to use crack safely so that its impact on your life and career is minimal.
Sometimes staying completely off crack is hard. :(
We don’t want to make you do anything that’s hard. If you fail at staying off crack completely, you might get discouraged. We don’t want you discouraged, Mr. Crack Addict.
Let’s help you to incorporate recreational crack use into your routine. We don’t want you abusing crack. You just need to learn how to moderate your use of crack cocaine. So that it can be fun again, like it was the first time.
Give us your credit card and sign here.
God, this is what every addict doesn’t need to hear from a medical facility. Ever.
She just foul… she’s like the anorexic drug addict lovechild of Olive Oyl and the Hanker For A Hunka Cheese (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3jgo5ea_zc) guy, except with bad teeth.
I’m so tired of her… she’s just a mess.
How’s the foot going Evil Beet? :-) Hope it’s mending well!
ok, so i dont wanna discuss the horrible thing this center does, what i wanna do is, really and honestly, congratulate you! i meaaan, how many people surfing on the net, really does research of what they read or hear?? almost nobody!! but you do! and that is completely awesome!! i like search for things too, many of the times, because the things you read, is pure bullshit, and i dont believe everything that i read… so again, congratulations!! i bet you are not one of those who forward the –crap– emails.. saying that particules in cans can kill you!
good for you
This is called harm reduction. It’s a way to help the users, it’s used by social workers and psychologists in europe and america. A heavy drug user wil keep on using drugs. It’s better to learn how to control it, and to do it safe . In Europe they can get new needles to prevent diseases. When they know how to control it, they can slowly start to stop using. Complete abstinence ( no using) isn’t the only way.
Look, I’m all about giving drug users clean needles to prevent the spread of disease. What I’m not about it sending any kind of message to indicate to addicts that there’s any way they can “moderately” use. An addict’s mind will latch onto this as proof that he or she doesn’t have to quit completely, and it’ll lead to relapse.
I do understand your argument, but I tend to believe that, if you’re truly an addict — and people don’t often end up in rehab when they’re not — then complete abstinence IS the only way.
What Nina said. Though my opinion is this is the best approach for a “heavy” user. It’s also more effective at roping in a “heavy” user. They’re already batsh*t crazy, you show them a soft approach and make it clear there will be mistakes. Most rehab’d people (let alone heavy users) have relapses. It’s one interpretation that you expect it, another that it’s not the end of the world.
Also- congrats on the research. That’s why I like your site.
Why the hell is she wearing those awfull shoes every day???!!!
Is obnoxious…
she is going to die soon huh?..poor girl, i really do feel for her. I was in rehab once, and addiction is definatly a hard thing to over come (thats what she said) especially if you have an an addictive personality, and replace one thing for another…someone just needs to “kidnap” her (not really, just a term, dont have me arrested) and get her healthy again and have her body get used to healthy things again and gain some weight and clean her up and keep her away from all her bad peeps… argh..except i fell this may be too late, I we are watching her die before our eyes… :(
Nina & Cat-Attack– though these are other methods for addiction, they’re not terribly successful. Anyone who has ever taken a substance abuse course should know that there are certain stages of addiction that need to be conquered before maintenance can be achieved. This center is jumping to the end of the cycle and hoping to work backward. From what I’ve seen in addiction journals, not the wisest course. If you only want the person to stop using street drugs, then sure, this is fine. But if you really want them SOBER and clean, then this perpetuates their cycle of use. As far as Amy is concerned, she doesn’t want to stop so she won’t. There’s nothing anyone can do until she hits that proverbial bottom, as sad as it is.
Beet – your translation was just the best, totally cracked me up! I hate PR bullshit and putting a “spin” on things, so good to read it all real & clear on your site.
England, actually most of the western world has a very different view of addiction that we do here in America. It’s not a punitive issue, or some kind of character flaw. So what you see as a coddling, enabling situation is really one that doesn’t force addicts to “clean up”. You register as an addict and you are provided drugs, this cuts down on crime, disease, infection, children being mistreated and neglected. It’s maintenance only dosages.
There are pretty high statistics that people on maintenance doses of drugs do clean up on their own and stay clean, usually one to two years. The study I read followed what they do in England versus what they do in NYC, they followed 25 heroin addicts. The US addicts with ER visits, arrests, property damage, non payment of bills etc ran up almost 2 million dollars in damage each in bills that the tax payers ended up with. In England it was the dole, drugs, health care, and social services, costing under 50k per addict. Big difference.
It seems strange because we are a more punitive country in general with much more moralizing about character rather than seeing what is the best approach for the society as a whole. Drugs are bad, especially if you are injecting them. Sadly it’s far more common that people realize.
I agree with Jinx, actually. That’s because I grew up in Europe, and think that their approach to drug use is a better one. Rehab here means Relapse the majority of the time. Think outside the box.
Is any detox center more about long-term success with the patients or fiscal-quarter bottom-lines? Which will no doubt benefit from high-profile clients like Amy Winehouse? Seriously. Should we judge any of them their success ratios with spoiled, ego-heavy celebs, most of whom will relapse anyway? Or their profit/loss statements? Cynical, maybe, realistic absolutely. Welcome to business. Ethics don’t pay bills.
Beet, nothing you say in your parody, which is great, is anything other than what every addict wants to hear. It’s marketing, not therapy. Having attracted Amy Winehouse as a client/patient winds up as Stapleford’s biggest coup in 2008, and if you think they are discussing anything else in their board room, come on. More likely that they are discussing Karl Marx manifestos in the Kremlin rather than arms contracts.
Besides, Amy looks hugely, strangely cute in this picture and must be reconsidered for the spank bank. For that comment, I am obviously signing up for rehab myself.
I hate to admit it but I was briefly and horribly married to a heroin addict and when he went into rehab (totes against his will) they put him on methadone to keep him from going totally insane with the withdrawls. Maybe that’s what they are talking about? Not that he cleaned up, he was right back on it when he was ‘cured and released’ from the rehab.
I have more hope for Amy – I really pray she gets it together before that loser husband of hers is put back on the streets. Then she will have no chance in hell and that makes me sad.
Ugh. I’m scared of her because she looks weird.
My ex is a heroin addict, and honestly I believe that a center like this would help him more than a candy cutter our way or no way facility. I don’t believe that they are saying that you just learn how to use in moderation… it seems that they take a step by step approach for heavy users by getting them to use lower amounts until they can finally get them off, if they stay in treatment long enough. Some hard core addicts are too afraid of withdrawals and living life without the drug that they won’t even consider a traditional rehab facility. Obviously no one way of treatment is fool proof, but I would say not to knock it so hard. I could totally see this working for my ex if there was a facility like it around here.
Well, i agree with Beet.. Either you’e ready to quit or you’re not.. and if you’re not gonna quit then why waste your money that way, going to “rehab” to “learn” how to use the drug.. She already knows how to use it, thats exactly why she’s so fucked up.. So i dont think there is any other way to deal with the problem but to quit..
They’re telling her exactly what she wants to hear: “It’s OK, if it’s too hard we won’t make you quit entirely. We’ll help you ‘maintain,’ dear, so you don’t continue to flush your music career down the toilet.” Ugh. That kind of crap kills people.
beet, you i-i-i-diot. it is a methadone clinic. and why haven’t you said anything about those terrible white moccasins on her feet lately?
btw, i’ve been clean for over 2 yrs and never could have done it without going onto methadone to make the transition. i think i should write a handbook for people who have never been addicts because your level of ignorance is AMAZING.
and i mean a handbook for info purposes only, not a how-to . . .
Natalie – absolutely right about Beet. Most journalists don’t investigate shit. They just “report” what they are told.
Jinx also correct. Americans tend to be extremely judgmental and punitive.
Amy – enough with the wig already. It’s older than Samantha Ronson’s filthy smelly hats. Get well and find a new look.
er quick question beet. dont you SMOKE, I mean that is an addiction thats killing you also.
GOD SHE’S GROSS!!!