Help at last? Amy Winehouse on the verge of checking into rehab

11 April 2012
The Weekender

Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for exclusive competitions, offers and theatre ticket deals

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

After she was pictured with a nose full of white powder following another incoherent gig, I am relieved to hear that singer Amy Winehouse is on the brink of coming to her senses – and checking herself in for a serious dose of rehab.

The 24-year-old – who famously sang the lyrics "They tried to make me go to rehab, but I said no, no, no," – has so far shunned proper professional help for her drink and drug abuse, quitting within hours on the few occasions she has enrolled on treatment programmes.

But friends say she is now planning to check into The Priory in the New Year and make a determined effort to end her problems.

Scroll down for more

During a break between songs at her sell-out show at London's Brixton Academy, Amy Winehouse seemed to take a parcel from her bra and put it up towards her nostril

Amy removes the parcel from her bra

"Amy has always been against rehab, it's been her one rule but her family and friends are working on getting her to do it," says a friend.

"Amy finishes her current tour in the middle of December. She has promised to consider going to The Priory if she doesn't get clean over Christmas. She is miserable and, with her husband in jail, she has reached an all-time downer.

"The fact is Amy's shambolic appearances have been losing her fans, and ultimately it's losing her business.

Scroll down for more

Amy veiled a silk scarf in front of her face for a few moments...

...before agitatedly rubbing her nose

There have been some serious talks between Amy and her management, who are trying to convince her that in order to continue her success she needs to sort out her private life.

"Her parents are also trying to persuade her to get some professional help to try to kick her drug habit."

I'm told Amy's father Mitch, who recently introduced her to Yogabeats, a yoga-based therapy that can apparently cure crack cocaine habits, is desperate for her to check into a clinic.

Scroll down for more

It's been a troubled six months for newlyweds Amy and Blake

Last week, Amy's mother Janice revealed she was pleased that her daughter's husband Blake Fielder-Civil, 25, was behind bars because it would give Amy a chance to get off drugs.

He was remanded in custody again on Friday, accused of assaulting a landlord and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

A spokesman for Amy insisted she was planning to start the New Year by working, adding: "She is going back into the studio to record another album."

Let's hope, for Amy's sake, that she finds time to sort herself out first.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in