I want to correct those who are asserting that Brittney's actions are based on drug abuse. All drug abuse (as well as endless partying, unhealthy personal behaviors, etc.) are attempts to mask deep, hidden pain. The source of that pain is rarely obvious. That's why therapy exists...to unearth the pain and (hopefully) to help the sufferer to face it and deal with it.

Does this suggest that the drugs are CAUSING her behavior? No, quite the opposite! The drug use is a SYMPTOM of her behavior. The roots of her behavior existed long before the drug use.

Modern history is replete with examples of people who have achieved fame and fortune, only to find that it doesn't make them happy. It doesn't make their pain go away. In most cases, the pain motivated them to drive themselves toward success, so the discovery that the success doesn't mask the pain is a bit of a shock after the fame and fortune are achieved. As an example, look at how many popular songs are based on themes of pain, dysfunction, "my baby done me wrong," etc.

This is why so many people who achieve fame and fortune end up drugging themselves. Brittney is the latest victim of this pattern.

The saddest thing is that her "friends" are the ones from whom the media is getting their information. Without her "friends" the media would never have their stories about what she's going through in rehab with which they can plaster the tabloids. With "friends" like that, who needs enemies? If they were really her friends, they'd be much more interested in giving her direct, private support toward facing the roots of her pain and in protecting her privacy from snoopy gossip-mongers.