While the cause of her death remains under investigation, pop singer Whitney Houston’s passing is just the latest in a long string of tragedies involving celebrities who have struggled with substance abuse issues.

So many famous persons check into rehab that the struggle to overcome addiction has become a staple of prime-time television entertainment, with reality shows such as “Intervention” and “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.” Despite the public’s fascination with celebrities, the need for rehab spans all economic and social lines.

“The face of addiction is the person in the office right next to you. People tend to think ‘this will not happen to us,’” says Carol McDaid, a patient advocate and government relations specialist based in Washington, D.C. “Seventy percent of the people with addiction are working people.”

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