Mindy McReady

Jeff Conaway.

Mike Starr.

Joey Kovar.

Rodney King.

And just this evening, Mindy McReady.

And then there were five.

That's 5 deaths out of the 40-plus celebrities who have appeared on Celebrity Rehab with Doctor Drew. I know that popular opinion on Dr Drew is mixed, but here's some bottom-line truth about Drew Pinsky and his work: people are alive today because of what this man has done to raise awareness of just how deadly this disease called "addiction" really is. Dr Drew is the real thing when it comes to the scientific study of addiction and recovery, and his prophetic warnings about addiction are speaking to me more loudly than ever before. This disease kills people. Whether directly from drug-use itself or injuries sustained while under the influence... or indirectly from suicide (as it appears in Ms McReady's case)... this is a terminal illness.

I feel compelled to place a small public service announcement here:

You are not alone.  No matter how alone you feel at this moment, you can talk to someone right now. If you feel hopeless or unloved, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline right now and talk to someone. 800-273-8255.

Again, you are not alone.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

800-273-8255

I still think of a young man named Jonathan Lemay from Reno NV who I met through social media a few years back; we met on a site called Plinky then we connected through Facebook. I eventually outed myself to him and his basic response was nonchalance. While he never came out to me, I got the idea that perhaps he was seeking some sort of connection with a gay man. I never pushed him on any of this, but then... he disappeared. I later found out that he committed suicide. Should I have been more direct with him about his sexual orientation? Was there a subtle hint of emotional trouble that I missed? Dear God in Heaven, why was I not able to help this young man? He was so full of promise: his knowledge of mathematics was absolutely stunning, he was very literate, he was a really amazing writer, and he was a serious threat to my dominant performance at the online version of Scrabble on Facebook. He was one of the next generation of young adults who could have changed the world...

In the end, my own words fall short. In times like this I fall on the words of poets far more gifted than I. From the wonderful 1986 album One to One, I offer you A Little Bit of Snow by Howard Jones. May these words call to the souls of people in need, and may their light never go out.

A Little Bit of Snow

Please don't throw you away we need you to stay.

When you die a part of us dies,

Not the body but part of the soul.

You have a light for us we need every glimmer.

Don't destroy yourself in a little bit of snow.

When there is no feeling and no pain,

It only lasts a little while...

When one light goes out a part of all of us cries.

Please hang on for us,

Please give you to us,

Don't destroy yourself in a little bit of snow.

Please don't throw you away we need you to stay.

When you die a part of us dies,

Not the body but part of the soul.

Drink the sunshine, warm to the rain.

Keep the glimmer alive for all of us.

And a million matches in the night

Will help to light the way...

When one light goes out, a part of all of us cries.

Please hang on for us,

Please give you to us,

Don't destroy yourself in a little bit of snow.

Drink the sunshine, warm to the rain.

Keep the glimmer alive for all of us.

And a million matches in the night

Will help to light the way...

When one light goes out, a part of all of us cries.