Could Neuroscience Have Helped Amy Winehouse?

What we have learned includes:
- It appears an inherited dopamine receptor deficit, likely the D2 receptors, are the basis for self-harming impulsive/compulsive behaviors
- Family history is a reliable predictor
- These are permanent and incurable brain impairments that get worse with age
- The hypo-active dopamine system, which is more a seeking system than a reward system, leads to hyper-active behaviors because the brain is always signalling that it is, effectively, dying of
starvation for the substance or stimulation of choice

It is likely the hyper-seeking/sensitivity of these poor people is what gives them charisma and makes them popular since they are hyper-sensitive to cues and responses in others -- and themselves.

From our study the treatments are getting better but there is a lot of ideology, demonizing of the sufferer and blaming the victim preventing professional treatment --- especially in the US.

Finally, it's important to remember that the behaviors, and even deaths, are symptoms and not the disease.

I like to think that the advances in neuroscience would help Amy W. and others. But if rehab is refused, would the testing etc. also be refused?

As stated by you and the other commenter, there are many factors that go into being an addict to the degree she and the other "27's" were. So I remain skeptical about what advances in neuroscience would change. But hopefully I'll be proven wrong.

Hi Melanie - Addiction is so profound, the character changes are so deep, the neurological changes so entrenched, it is so difficult to treat. I feel for the families of the addicts who endlessly go to rehab, which costs over $30K a month....it drains people's bank accounts, the methadone tx is also addicting.....this disease drains the whole family emotionally, circumvents people's futures....so difficult. The drug cartel has reached into our society and had done a good job of weakening American society from the inside.
I would welcome any advances in this field.

Hi Melanie--

I certainly hope the new generation of rock stars (and others) will say yes to preventative care. It's so difficult to watch a train wreck, even from a distance.

My heart goes out to Amy Winehouse and her family. Sadly, resting in peace may be the only time she has ever rested.

Like Kathy's comment above--I welcome any advances in the addiction field.

"Scientists of the future could invent drugs or identify natural supplements to increase dopamine-related pleasure sensation, making individuals less vulnerable to addiction."

Yeah, just think of the BILLIONS big-pharma could make on the suffering that was Any Winehouse's life. And wasn't this idea already tried? Oh right, it was called HEROIN! Can't her fans just grieve her death without this "futuristic" wishful thinking that science will ever find a cure for addiction? Shame on you, Melanie.

I am hopeful that there is an eventual "cure" for addiction and the tragedy it causes, but experience has taught me to be skeptical.

I spent quite a while working with adolescent addicts in one of the most intensive, long-term treatment environments I've ever seen. Even with 12-18 months of intensive daily treatment, the relapse rate appears to be similar to simpler methods - AA & Cognitive Behavioral work. The bottom line, it's hard to pin down just the right treatment, and attend to the myriad of factors that go into a substance abuser progressing to substance dependence. Mix in the factors "celebrity" adds to the mix, and it only makes matters more difficult.

Hopefully we can find the most effective and quickest methods to treat addiction soon. Even though we hear a story of a celebrity passing tragically every few years, addiction related deaths to less known people are happening much more often.