Addiction and artistry: 10 stars who let drugs claim their careers and lives

Addiction and artistry: 10 stars who let drugs claim their careers and lives

Hip-hop superstar Lil’ Wayne is in the midst of a health crisis. The rapper has been at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for the past several days, recuperating from multiple seizures. While reports vary on the degree of his ailment, it is apparent that Wayne suffered a major health scare.


The rapper suffered seizures last year, as well. On two separate occasions, planes carrying the famed hip-hop star were forced to land due to him having seizures onboard.


As he’s been recovering, several of his YMCMB family have visited and wished him well. Both Drake and Nicki Minaj have been spotted at the facility, and labelhead “Birdman” Williams rushed out to check on Weezy, as well. “My son is feelin Good. will be home real soon.YMCMB” Birdman tweeted.

The New Orleans native has a fairly well-known affinity for “Purple Drank” or “syrup,” which is liquid codeine. He’s admitted that he’s become addicted to the drug over the years, and there are reports that he was on a codeine binge prior to his latest bout of seizures.


As Wayne fights through this latest setback, and with hopes that it doesn’t have more serious consequences, the seriousness of drug abuse — and the romanticizing of drug abuse–among music stars is again at the forefront of the pop culture conversation.

Musicians struggles with addiction are as well known as their music. Here are 10 who let drugs derail their careers. Some were able to recover. Sadly, there were several who were not so lucky.

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