If you’re the parent of a tween- or teenaged child, then you’ve likely heard of Miley Cyrus, better known to some as Hannah Montana. Unfortunately, Ms. Cyrus seems to be following the well worn path of young celebrities who struggle with substance abuse. You can’t change your teen’s role model, but you can protect them by teaching them to learn from others’ mistakes. “Weed Is the Best Drug on Earth” The days of the Disney Channel evidently well behind her, Ms. Cyrus boasted of her love for marijuana — the worst-kept secret in Hollywood, according to everyone from EOnline to Perez Hilton to the New York Daily News — as well as MDMA, what many addicts already know as molly or ecstasy. Her new song “We Can’t Stop” mentions molly by name. “If you’re aged ten, [the lyric is] Miley. If you know what I’m talking about, then you know,” she told the U.K. paper the Daily Mail. Rolling Stone features the intrepid — or foolish — Ms. Cyrus on its newest cover, where she is sporting an American Indian-themed tattoo, a partially shaved head, heavy black eyeliner and a provocative pose. “I think weed is the best drug on earth,” she tells the magazine. “One time I smoked a joint with peyote in it, and I saw a wolf howling at the moon.” Ms. Cyrus also spoke plainly about her love of molly, a “social” drug that she says makes users want to “be with friends.” She also acknowledged trying cocaine, although she is not a fan of the “gross” and “dark” drug. When a Drug Problem Is Obvious to Others Just like stars such as Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears before her, Ms. Cyrus’s recent behavior is becoming alarmingly erratic. She has made drastic changes in her appearance since her Hannah Montana days. Her relationship with her fiancé recently ended. Her “twerky” appearance with Robin Thicke on MTV’s Video Music Awards rose more than a few eyebrows — and a new report indicates Ms. Cyrus wanted to go topless. For all intents and purposes, it appears as if Ms. Cyrus is dancing on the knife-edge ridge of addiction. Unfortunately, what appears obvious to others is rarely obvious to the addict. One hopes that Ms. Cyrus’s family can help put the brakes on her dangerous behavior, which has the potential to influence millions of young fans around the world. You can put the brakes on at home by using this opportunity to teach your own children how to learn from others’ very public mistakes. Photo: JPAvocat
