Why are they harder to avoid? Prevalence alone does not make something harder to avoid, unless you are an imebicle with absolutely zero impulse control.

Does becoming famous expose you to that much more stress? Does it encourage that much more a desire for altered states of conciousness?

Given what working at least six 16-hour or more days a week on a set can do to a person, it's very easy to succumb to the drug scene. I've worked with a few ADs who couldn't cope without a good dose of valium. And, I understand why. :( Someone once compared production to war. It can totally be like going to battle - which tolls on the mind, body, and spirit. It's an extremely high-pressure environment that doesn't let up, not even for a second. And actors have it even worse, because during hiatus, their lives are still "owned" by the public 24/7.

Yet, I seem to love production more than I like post. Maybe I'm drawn to the chaos of it all...

Not sure. I've never really been addicted to anything... maybe diet sodas...
But I think when the demand to be "on" is so high, I can see people resorting to drugs to help them.

Too true. It's like a last resort when trying to cope. :(

This is no way compares... but...

When I was doing theatre avidly in Hawai'i, I felt the need to be "on" all the time. Because HI is so small, people would come up to me and talk to me all the time about theatre stuff. And, since I was representing a certain theatre at the time, I felt the need to be happy, chipper and positive all the time. (It gets old.) Once someone sat with Ralphie and I in our booth at a restaurant wanting to know everything about the production I was in blah, blah. It was very uncomfortable.
I can't imagine what it would be like to be a film star. Everyone would recognize you at all time... everywhere you went.... Yikes.

If sleeping pills were what he ODed on, I think we're talking serious depression and suicide here. Although, there are some nice perscription drug habits out there.

In most walks of life, it's not particularly difficult to remove yourself from situations you where you know you will be uncomfortable/unable to avoid temptation. In the entertainment industry, yes it IS about prevalence. Your JOB is to see and be seen, and it just so happens that the best way to see and be seen in that industry is to be in party situations. You have very little choice as a high-end star but to be around it. So while most people, if they end up around temptation, have the option of removing themselves if they feel like they can't resist, that option is rarely there for a star of his level.

I'm thinking, the break up with his wife, not seeing his kid as much, stuff like that. Total depression.
Rumor has it that he was doing heroin at one point. Not good.

It definitely compares! ^And this is because you are nice. The first time I met you about a year ago, I walked up to you like a Disnerd groupie and introduced myself to you. (To give myself some excuse, it was at a very big meet; I didn't accost you in public!) You were extremely nice and I will never forget that. You totally could have blown me off, but didn't.

Anyway, Heath.

Bah! I am so mad about this. I remember feeling this way about River Phoenix and Kurt Cobain. Brad Renfro? Yeah, not really - saw that coming. But not Heath Ledger. I mean, come on. So very sad and disappointing.

I wish the press would just back off of celebs when they're going through depression and whatnot. Let them get the help they need, because they're people just like the rest of us. I think that's what sways some of them from getting treatment and help - because the press always has a field day with it.