The "battles" of spoiled celebrities

Prince. Philip Seymour Hoffman. Michael Jackson. Heath Ledger. Elvis, fergodsake.

It's becoming the standard script: whenever we hear about the untimely death of yet another celebrity from a drug overdose, we're virtually guaranteed to be informed that he or she was "battling addiction." As if that both explains and excuses said celebrity's actions.

Contrast this with what we're told about the OD of a drug abuser who happens to be poor and not a celebrity. If we're told anything at all, it's likely to be along the lines of "Ho hum. There goes another worthless junkie."