By: Valerie Milano and Lorraine Chambers – Hollywood, CA (Hollywood Today) 2/16/12

 As the media searches for answers to the mystery of the silence left by the tragic death of singer performer Whitney Houston, there was a time when she was an ordinary citizen. Before the world knew Whitney Houston, she was a high school student at Mount Saint Dominc Academy, an all girl Catholic school in Caldwell, New Jersey.  Hollywood Today writer, Lorraine Chambers is a fellow graduate of an all girl Catholic school, San Gabriel Mission High School and  it was with sadness that she, like the rest of the world,  heard that Whitney Houston passed away suddenly at age 48 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. 

Lorraine was just at a mini reunion with her classmates in Pasadena with their history teacher Mr. Howard Shorr. Whitney was five years younger than Lorraine and she was reared in the fine tradition of Catholic private school. It is sad to know that despite her great education, Whitney suffered for many years with drug addiction. She wondered, ‘Did Whitney keep in touch with her alma mater? Was her world just the fame game followers or did she stay connected to her past? How was Whitney not strong enough to fight the temptations of addiction?’

Whitney passed away in the hotel once owned by TV show producer Merv Griffin, who per Wikipedia, ‘in 1983, Whitney made her national televised debut alongside Clive Davis on The Merv Griffin Show.’  Whitney was a regular guest to the Beverly Hilton as it is the site of the annual pre Grammy party held by legendary record industry leader Clive Davis who discovered and nurtured Whitney’s award winning musical career. The week preceding her death she was seen often on the TMZ night broadcasts, showing her exit from a Hollywood dinner with friends, reports of her doing ‘cartwheels’ outside at the hotel. Where did she have such energy? Was it naturally or induced? 

Whitney was praised by many celebrities that she loved to party and have a good time. Is the process of partying and having a good time a drug in itself which requires stimulates to keep the high? Could Whitney have been saved? Daniel Amen, MD ponders how in one fell swoop, what was supposed to be a bright day of celebration for Hollywood transformed overnight into a day of mourning for the loss of a legend. The question is, “Should we have seen it coming?”  Leading Neuropsychiatrist and brain imaging expert Daniel Amen, MD argues that this tragedy could have been prevented. 

Dr. Amen explains,’Brain toxicity and bad decisions lead to an early grave.’ Toxic living and bad decisions damaged Whitney Houston’s brain and ended the life of one of the greatest voices of our time. Spousal abuse (often with brain injuries), drug abuse, and chronic stress from repeated failed attempts to get clean and sober all take their toll.

Dr. Amen says ‘there were warning signs we should have noticed in Whitney Houston which could have been done to give her a fighting chance against Hollywood’s trend of substance abuse and her untimely demise plus the effect the limelight has on addiction, abuse and recovery.  We can learn from this tragedy to prevent further repeats and much more.’

DANIEL G. AMEN, M.D., is a clinical neuroscientist, psychiatrist, and brain imaging expert who heads the world-renowned Amen Clinics. He also serves on the faculty of the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine.

The author of 28 previous books, including four New York Times bestsellers, Change Your Brain, Change Your Life; Change Your Brain, Change Your Body; Magnificent Mind at Any Age; and The Amen Solution. He lives in Newport Beach, California.

As writers, we tell the news and share the stories, yet we are more than scribes of the sizzle. As adults we must stay connected as advocates to our communities and families to be safe in our habits and actions. As parents and aunts/uncles, we worry about the temptations young people are faced with.  We urge readers to contact their local schools to encourage the teachers to keep the students aware of the dangers that await them beyond their textbooks and classrooms. The young people of today are our future. We need the future to be healthy and strong without addictive crutches that break.
 
Thank you to BarbaraTeszler | Teszler PR |ExpertConnectionPR for your assistance with this article.