Winehouse death leads to alcohol detox warnings

The Canadian Press

Posted: Jul 29, 2011 4:28 PM ET

Last Updated: Jul 29, 2011 4:28 PM ET

Singer Amy Winehouse was found dead at her home in London on July 23. She was 27 years old. Matt Dunham, Associated Press

Alcoholics are being warned to go slow when trying to quit drinking following reports Amy Winehouse died after ignoring her doctor's advice not to go cold turkey.

Britain's Sun tabloid is citing family sources as saying the 27-year-old "Rehab" singer suffered a fatal seizure brought on by a sudden, three-week abstinence from booze.

The report says the singer's family believes her tiny frame could not cope with the loss of alcohol in her veins after many years of binge drinking.

Canadian addiction specialists confirm going from heavy drinking to nothing can be lethal.

Rob Hadley of the Vancouver Addiction Centre says the body develops a level of chemical requirement and if it's not met, it literally goes into shock.

Hadley says quitting requires addicts to get treatment from professionals that will reduce dependency without risking their health.

Daniel Jordan of the Sunshine Coast Health Centre says alcohol is one of the most dangerous drugs to detox from.

He says the chance of dying from a withdrawal from alcohol is actually much more than for heroin.

Stay Connected with CBC News

Big Box Advertisement

Top News Headlines

Oklahoma residents begin to return home after deadly tornado

Oklahoma residents begin to return home after deadly tornado: Rescue workers raced to complete the search for survivors and the dead in the Oklahoma City suburb where a mammoth tornado destroyed countless homes, cleared lots down to bare red earth and claimed 24 lives, including those of nine children. more »

Video forensics: How easy would it be to fake a Rob Ford video?: Two media outlets reported last week that they had seen a cellphone video of Mayor Rob Ford allegedly smoking crack, a claim that has gone global. If a video does surface, how easy would it be to determine its authenticity? CBC News asked video forensic analyst David McKay. more »
Tim Bosma memorial today in hall that hosted his wedding reception: The widow of Tim Bosma, the Hamilton man killed after taking two strangers on a test drive in a truck he had listed for sale online, will say goodbye to her husband at a public memorial today in the same hall where they celebrated their marriage just three years ago. more »
Eritreans in Canada say consul still demands cash from them: Evidence obtained by CBC News suggests Eritrea's top diplomat in Canada is again soliciting taxes from the Eritrean community despite a threat by Canada eight months ago not to renew his credentials if he kept at it. more »
How the weather info that storm chasers use can keep you safe: Radar imagery and a stream of weather information are readily available to the public when severe weather bears down. more »

Must Watch

Latest Health News Headlines

'Suicide contagion' spreads after schoolmate death

'Suicide contagion' spreads after schoolmate death: Youth who had a schoolmate die by suicide are more likely to consider or attempting it, according to a large Canadian study into "suicide contagion." more »

Children driven around too much, Canadian report suggests: Fewer Canadian kids are commuting by walking or biking as a new report reveals a marked decline among young people using active modes of transportation. more »
Tunisia announces 3 cases of coronavirus including 1 death: Tunisia's Health Ministry says a 66-year-old man has died after being infected by the new coronavirus following a visit to Saudi Arabia. more »
Sleeping with parents always risky for infants, study suggests: Sharing a bed with their parents increased the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in babies under three months old by at least a factor of five, even without any other risk factors, the largest ever analysis of individual cases suggests. more »
Flu shot for health workers urged by Ont. medical officer: Ontario's chief medical officer of health is renewing her push for health-care workers, particularly those in long-term care, to get their shots. more »