The Curse of the Child Star: Celebrity Drug Addiction Infographic

It seems like every single day we come across a new headline highlighting the crazy shenanigans that Amanda Bynes or Lindsay Lohan find themselves involved in. What is wrong with them? They go from rehab to rehab, land in jail or in court, all the while tweeting crazy things and posting pictures of themselves almost naked. Now, they’re shaving off half their head or knocking over pedestrians with their Porshe - what on earth happened to them?

That black cloud of poor decision-making, drug and alcohol addiction, and crazy attention-getting behavior actually has a name: the curse of the child star. As it so happens, a huge number of youngsters that got thrust into the spotlight early on in life grow up to be a little bit insane.

But why? Some speculate that their poor habits formed out of boredom; as performers they experienced constant excitement, but as their careers began to slip, they sought that excitement in drugs and alcohol. Others believe that they crack because of all the pressure: instead of being treated like kids, they are treated as “little adults,” with all the accompanying responsibility that that entails.

Wherever it comes from, Lindsay Lohan, Macaulay Culkin, and Amanda Bynes are just three examples of the curse’s victims. They are not responsible for their actions; the actions are simply a result of their addictions. Check out this infographic to learn more about each actor’s downfall, and where they are now.


Infographic by Clarity Way Rehab Center