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| Drew Barrymore as a child |
Drew isn't trying to hide her past; she is very open about it. She had her first alcoholic drink at 9, smoking marijuana at 10, and at 12 started doing cocaine. By age 13 she had been in rehab twice! Now, it seems like her family is prone to substance abuse because: a) her grandfather, John Barrymore drank himself to death, b) her aunt, Diana Barrymore has a hunger for alcohol and drugs, and c) her father, John Drew Barrymore has a history of alcoholism and drug-related arrests. It kinda makes sense that Drew would follow this pattern, but who would have guessed it would start at age 9.
In an interview she did in 1989 she described her struggles. Drew had been to ASAP Family Treatment Center numerous times by the time she did the interview, which at that time she was 14. When she was 8 1/2 she was already skipping school and going to night clubs, being allowed in because of her status. From there on she started smoking and then the substances got progressively worse. Sure, it started with cigarettes but then it turned to alcohol, then weed, then eventually cocaine. She was not on a good path. But all this lead up to her being sent to the hospital. At 13 she stole her mom's credit card while in NYC and somehow managed to buy a plane ticket for her and her friend to go to LA (where she lived) and from there they drove her mom's car around town while doing cocaine. Keep in mind that she was 13 when doing this!
Drew had troubles with her emotions and family ties. She didn't know how to express how she felt, but from encouragement and support from the groups in the hospital she found the courage to contact her father, after her grandfather died. In general she has had a very difficult childhood. I guess this shows what can happen to child stars.
Regardless, Drew Barrymore is a very talented actress. She uses her past to educate other people and it is a reminder to her from what she has gone through. From Fame to Shame, Drew Barrymore, cute Gertie from E.T. was a child drug addict. Hopefully people will take her story and understand the risks and consequences of addiction.
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| Drew Barrymore now |
I didn't know any of this before I read this post, of course I've never been a huge Drew Barrymore fan, I know about E.T. but I've never watched it. But this is absolutely insane I can't believe that her childhood was so horrible, though it's not like she wouldn't be at least partially to blame. But I don't like how you said, " I guess this shows what can happen to child stars. " I feel like you're generalizing all childhood stars to become drug addicts which is completely ludicrous. Not all actors/actresses let the fame go to their heads, or take advantage of their status and forget who they are. Some celebrities remember they're more than famous.
ReplyDeleteSome childhood stars do end up in problems, but some don't. I think it's based on their childhood and how they grew up but sometimes it's not that either. People make mistakes, and for celebrities their mistakes are more public. It's just how it is
ReplyDeleteI picture Drew Barrymore the kick-ass chick from Charlie's Angel, or just that great actor in many movies, and seeing this, it made me more sad than shocked. It did not shock me, because I've heard similar stories before about not just celebrities, down lives going downhill, and its not so 'rare', but I agree with Jenny on that, not on the generalizing part, which I did not see you do, but it is true that not all celebrities have gone 'fame to shame'.
ReplyDeleteIt does make me sad though how a female, so young in life, i mean come on 8 1/2 - 9 years old can deal with so much at such an early stage. Though it seems like a rollar coaster of fun nights and experiences too, children even today, become influenced or pressured or really just exposed and want to do drugs (any sort) and their lives just become terrifying.