Drug Addiction Not A Crime Or Romantic But A Deadly Disease, Says Brand

Russell Brand is to address MPs over his drug addiction

Comedian Russell Brand is expected to tell MPs on Tuesday that drug addiction should not be seen as a crime or a romantic affectation, but as a disease that will kill.

The flamboyant film star has been asked to give evidence about his own battle with addiction to MPs reviewing the Government's drugs policy.

Brand has given frank accounts of his battle to overcome drug addiction and has said society needs to change the way it views addicts.

Writing on his website last July after the death of singer Amy Winehouse, Brand, 36, said addiction should be treated like a potentially fatal illness.

"Addiction is a serious disease; it will end with jail, mental institutions or death," he wrote.

"Now Amy Winehouse is dead, like many others whose unnecessary deaths have been retrospectively romanticised, at 27 years old. Whether this tragedy was preventable or not is now irrelevant. It is not preventable today.

"We have lost a beautiful and talented woman to this disease. Not all addicts have Amy's incredible talent. Or Kurt's (Cobain) or Jimi's (Hendrix) or Janis's (Joplin), some people just get the affliction.

"All we can do is adapt the way we view this condition, not as a crime or a romantic affectation but as a disease that will kill."

Brand has also accused the media of being more interested in "tragedy than talent", saying they focused more on Winehouse's personal battles than her musical career.

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Drug Addiction Not A Crime Or Romantic But A Deadly Disease, Says Brand