There have been many artists in the music industry plagued by problems with drugs and alcohol over the years. Janis Joplin, Elvis Presley, Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson -- the list goes on and on.
And now, everyone’s talking about Whitney Houston. Although the official toxicology reports have yet to be released, it’s no secret that the pop icon also had a tough battle with her addictions.
Some people are asking if the recording industry can do anything differently to prevent even more of these tragic deaths.
On Dr. Drew Monday night, R&B singer Nicci Gilbert -- who was with Houston two nights before her death -- suggested a possible solution.
“Everyone is in a frenzy to find out what these artists are taking after they die,” she said. “Why aren’t record companies doing the same thing that the NFL or the NBA [are doing] -- mandatory drug testing. They have ... contracts where they take everything else. Why can’t they say in that agreement: ‘You’re going to be tested randomly.’”
Gilbert added, “If you have an issue, why aren’t there doctors that record companies work with on a regular basis that they know. If you get sick, you go to this guy, because he’s not just going to give you anything you want. And when you start taking anything you want as an artist or as a performer, then you should be held accountable for that then -- not after you die.”
Dr. Drew responded, “I love that.”
Watch Dr. Drew weeknights at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on HLN and follow the show on Twitter @DrDrewHLN.
Programming Note: All this week, tune in to HLN’s Nancy Grace at 8 p.m. ET, live from Hollywood, for up-to-the-minute details surrounding Whitney Houston's death, followed by Dr. Drew at 9 p.m. ET with more on the singer's battles with addiction. HLN will begin live coverage at 9 a.m. ET Saturday for funeral events in New Jersey on “Farewell to Whitney Houston.”
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