Amy Winehouse | Alcohol Poisoning Death

Songwriter and singer Amy Winehouse was a well-known vocalist and soul singer who passed away in 2011, at the age of 27, from alcohol poisoning.

How Amy Winehouse Died

Amy Winehouse’s death was ruled as accidental alcohol poisoning. Following a period of binge drinking, her body was found in her Camden, North London home by her live-in bodyguard Andrew Morris.

Originally, the 27-year-old’s cause of death, according to the coroner’s inquest, was by misadventure. However, after an official second inquest was performed, it was officially ruled as an accidental overdose from alcohol toxicity.

According to The Guardian, at the time of her death, Winehouse’s blood alcohol level was 0.416%, which is five times higher than the legal limit when driving. Upon hearing the news, tabloids ran the story and paparazzi swarmed her home.

27 Club

Unfortunately, with Winehouse’s death, she joined the infamous “27 Club,” a group of celebrities who passed away at the age of 27. Other tragic deaths of celebrities at the age of 27 include Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and Kurt Cobain.

About Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse was born on September 14, 1983, in Southgate, London, England to parents Mitch and Janis Winehouse.

The British singer and artist is known for her prominent and unique vocals. 

Music Career

Winehouse’s debut album, Frank, was released in 2003 which was nominated for the Brit Awards. In 2006, she released several demo tracks on the Mark Ronson New York radio show.

The new album, Back to Black, reached number one on the UK Albums Chart and landed at number seven on the Billboard 200. In fact, the song “Rehab” was named the song of the year in 2007 by Time magazine.

In 2008, Winehouse reached a milestone in her career when she won five awards at the 50th Grammy Awards. Despite the success, Winehouse married Blake Fielder-Civil in 2007 which led to marital problems, legal issues, and an eventual divorce in 2009.

In 2011 and only a month prior to her death, Winehouse began a comeback tour throughout Europe. However, at her first leg of the tour in Belgrade, Serbia, she was booed off stage due to her severe inebriation.

Popular Songs

Many of Amy Winehouse’s songs became hits, including:

• “Rehab”
• “Back to Black”
• “Love is a Losing Game”
• “Stronger Than Me”
• “You Know I’m No Good”
• “Valerie”
• “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”

Amy Winehouse’s History Of Substance Abuse

Amy Winehouse struggled with substance use throughout her life. In 2008, she was unable to perform at certain shows due to failing multiple drug tests.

Winehouse’s husband revealed he introduced heroin and crack cocaine to Winehouse. Both would participate in self-harm by cutting. In interviews, Winehouse labeled herself as manic depressive, shedding light on her mental illness.

Mental Health

In addition to substance use, Winehouse suffered from eating disorders including bulimia. 

In fact, after her death, Winehouse’s brother remarked that due to the eating disorder, his sister was in a weakened state, which may have left her more at risk of an overdose due to the large absorption of alcohol.

Did Amy Winehouse Attend Drug Or Alcohol Rehab?

In 2008, Winehouse was treated for respiratory problems and an irregular heartbeat caused by crack cocaine use. She was treated and later released.

She continued to receive outpatient treatment in 2008, but eventually swapped one drug for the other by turning to alcohol.

Winehouse’s doctor Christina Romete stated that Winehouse was treated with Librium for alcohol withdrawal as well as anxiety in 2010. Although taking the medication, Winehouse refused to seek addiction treatment in the form of psychological therapy.

Despite the troubles which plagued Winehouse’s life, her legacy lives on. In fact, singer Adele has stated she credits Winehouse for helping pave the way for other British female singers.

Recovery Is Possible

Amy Winehouse clearly struggled with substance abuse and mental health issues, but recovery is possible with professional resources and ongoing support.

To learn how we address mental health and addiction issues in both inpatient and outpatient treatment settings, please contact us today.