I know the comparison you are trying to make Phil,but
Addiction caused her death
No sound of mind human causes there own death,when addiction takes over a person only the strongest will pull through especially when it is drugs.
George Best loved life,he caused his own death?...i would argue addiction caused his death.
Untill you have been addicted it is very easy to say that the person who died CHOSE to die.
Sadly in my view it just shows the bad side of the Western culture in that she was exposed to drugs at a very early age and the people who supplied and made the money are out there today peddling there misery to many.
Untill we crack(no pun intended) down on people selling hard drugs in this country(minimum of ten years for persons selling heroin,etc) i am afraid there will be plenty more sad cases like Amy Winehouse.
This is a brilliant post and I totally agree with what you say. Addiction has been classed as an illness for decades and not many great doctors and scientists have ever disagreed since the original neuro-research in to this.
I've been having arguments all weekend with people who don't understand that her addiction wasn't her choice and it is an illness. Ok the first time she took the drug was her choice, but who knows the situation that she was in when that happened. When you're famous people the around you will do and get you what you want to keep your friendship - bit like George Best's mates still serving him drink in his darkest days.
People have gone out of their way to write on their facebook status that she deserved to die because 'she let her fans down and her family' and 'she could of stopped if she really wanted'. Makes me sick that someone could say that about a 27 year old girl who lost control. It's kind of like saying someone who smokes and can't quit deserves to die of lung cancer because they knew the risks of smoking when they started or someone who drinks deserves to die of kidney failure. Just because drugs are illegal people are quick to write them off as a dirty smack head that deserved to die. It's not even like she was out robbing OAPs to fund her addiction.
Then someone else put on their fb status 'why are people talking about the death of a drug addict rather than that the killings in Norway or the death of a British solider'....which just doesn't have any relevants on the fact that someone is upset that somebody they liked as a singer, performer and fashion icon. Who are they to judge what people should be upset about and what they want to discuss on a social networking site or forum?