Addiction Doc Chimes In on AM's Death

By PopEater / Wire Services Posted Aug 31st 2009 07:00AM

Addiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky said Saturday that pain medications likely led disc jockey DJ AM, a former drug addict who died suddenly Friday, away from his sober path. "It very slowly and subtly reawakens addiction," Pinsky said of pain medication in an interview Saturday. "I'm not saying it was inappropriately prescribed, I'm saying he didn't know the risks."

DJ AM, whose real name was Adam Goldstein, was found dead in his apartment Friday evening. A crack pipe and prescription pills were found in the Manhattan apartment, said a law enforcement official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.

Goldstein was 36 years old.

Pinsky is the host of VH1's "Celebrity Rehab," where he helps troubled stars get off of drugs and alcohol.

Pinsky said he believed pain medication Goldstein took for injuries sustained in the plane crash that required two skin graft surgeries reawakened his addiction to drugs. Goldstein had long preached sobriety and openly discussed his earlier addictions to drugs including crack cocaine and Ecstasy.

A medical examiner's office spokeswoman said Saturday that toxicology tests, expected to take weeks, are needed to determine what killed Goldstein. An autopsy Saturday was inconclusive, said the spokeswoman, Ellen Borakove.

Pinsky also expressed his grief over the loss of Goldstein. He said he considered himself a friend of the late star, and though they had not spoken for "a while," the two relayed messages to each other through friends and were "very close."

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Remembering DJ AM

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Remembering DJ AM

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 08: (FILE) DJ AM Adam Goldstein attends the 5th Annual MusiCares MAP Fund Benefit Concert at Club Nokia on May 8, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. According to reports on August 28, 2009, DJ AM, real name Adam Goldstein, was found dead in an apartment on Lafayette Street in New York City. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** DJ AM;Adam Goldstein

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 01: (FILE) DJ AM arrives for the launch of 'DJ Hero' at the Wiltern Theatre on June 1, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. According to reports on August 28, 2009, DJ AM, real name Adam Goldstein, was found dead in an apartment on Lafayette Street in New York City. (Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)

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IRVINE, CA - MAY 16: (FILE) DJ AM of TRVSDJAM performs at the KROQ Weenie Roast Y Fiesta 2009 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on May 16, 2009 in Irvine, California. According to reports on August 28, 2009, DJ AM, real name Adam Goldstein, was found dead in an apartment on Lafayette Street in New York City. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** DJ AM

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DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) seen before throwing the first pitch at Citi Field on August 23, 2009 in New York City. DJ AM Throws First Pitch At Citi Field Citi Field New York, NY United States August 23, 2009 Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage.com To license this image (58160860), contact WireImage.com

Gary Gershoff/WireImage.com

FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2008 file photo, investigators look over the debris left by the Learjet that was carrying former Blink 182 drummer, Travis Barker, and Adam Goldstein, also know as DJ-AM, on the outskirts of the Columbia Metropolitan Airport in Columbia, S.C. The pilots of the Learjet heard a noise and warned controllers they were going to crash just seconds before the fiery accident, according to transcripts released Friday, Aug. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Brett Flashnick)

President of MTV programming Tony DiSanto, executive producer Paul Rosenberg, executive producer Cheryl Horner Sirulnick, DJ AM, and executive producer Michael Hirschorn of "Gone Too Far" pose during the MTV Networks portion of the 2009 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour at the Langham Hotel on July 29, 2009 in Pasadena, California. MTV TCA 2009 Langham Hotel Pasadena, CA United States July 29, 2009 Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.com To license this image (58006941), contact FilmMagic.com

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.com

DJ AM poses during the MTV Networks portion of the 2009 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour at the Langham Hotel on July 29, 2009 in Pasadena, California. MTV TCA 2009 Langham Hotel Pasadena, CA United States July 29, 2009 Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.com To license this image (58006852), contact FilmMagic.com

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.com

DJ AM and executive producer Paul Rosenberg of "Gone Too Far" speak during the MTV Networks portion of the 2009 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour at the Langham Hotel on July 29, 2009 in Pasadena, California. MTV TCA 2009 Langham Hotel Pasadena, CA United States July 29, 2009 Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.com To license this image (58006065), contact FilmMagic.com

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.com

DJ AM speaks during the MTV Networks portion of the 2009 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour at the Langham Hotel on July 29, 2009 in Pasadena, California. MTV TCA Pasadena, CA United States July 29, 2009 Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.com To license this image (58005832), contact FilmMagic.com

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.com

NEW ORLEANS - JULY 08: DJ Jazzy Jeff and DJ AM perform together at House of Blues on July 8, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jeff Gentner/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** DJ Jazzy Jeff and DJ AM

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Goldstein was to debut his own show centering on rehab in October on MTV called "Gone Too Far," featuring Goldstein staging interventions with young people battling their own addictions. MTV said it has not decided on the show's future.

In an interview with The Associated Press last month to promote the show, Goldstein said that it was terrifying watching people go through harrowing addictions and it made him recall his own battles.

"I am a recovering drug addict. When I see it and I'm in their room and the paraphernalia and the whole lifestyle and everything, I still, 11 years later, have that little thing in my head that starts thinking, 'Oh, where's that? I wonder what that is?'"

But Pinsky laughed at the notion that being close to addicts may have caused Goldstein to relapse.

"That's not in any way the kind of thing that leads to someone relapsing," he said.

Pinsky called Goldstein a model for people going through recovery and said the disc jockey was selfless when it came to helping others overcome their addictions.

"He sponsors other people, and in his words, will go to the mat supporting people on their recovery," Pinsky said.

"He was a very supportive recovery person."

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Tags: dj am, dj am dies, DjAm, DjAmDies, dr. drew, Dr.Drew

Comments

(7)

Monday 31 August

By rojimowi

Vote down Vote up Report this

Whether he knows it or not, Mr. Pinsky is part of the problem, not part of the solution. Dr.psycho/addiction babble.

By gobluespartyon

Dr. Drew knows what he's talking about he isn't part of the problem as you have claim which is a lie. I doubt that you have watch Celeb Rehab with Dr. Drew he wants to help celebs to have sober lives.

By kc

His new name is "DJ UNDERGROUND"

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

A very good read and article as well. I like Dr. Drew he knows what he is talking about.

To gobluespartyon. Yes, I have watched the show. The idea of a show about rehab being a form of entertainment is beyond the pale. He is just an enabler pure and simple. He is an entertainer just like the addicts he is attempting? to help.

It is just a cheap form of entertainment to produce. Not unlike the survivor shows and the talent shows.

Those in the show are addicted to everything, including the attention the audience gives them.
Not one of them is willing to take responsibility for their actions. Until they do that there is no hope for them.

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