Winehouse Goes to Rehab As Father Says He Tried to Section Her

Jan 25, 08:37 AM

Amy Winehouse was in a rehab clinic last night after a dramatic day of revelations which included the disclosure that her father had failed to have her sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

The developments came days after the release of a video apparently showing the 24-year-old smoking crack cocaine.

The singer, who has been the subject of regular media speculation about her drug-taking in recent months, made the decision to check into a clinic after holding meetings with producers at her record company, Universal.

The label, which earlier expressed its desire to do "anything" it could to help the performer, said she sought medical help after "talks with her record label, management, family and doctors". It added: "She has come to understand she requires specialist treatment to continue her ongoing recovery from drug addiction and prepare for her planned appearance at the Grammy Awards next month.

"Amy entered the facility by mutual agreement and continues to receive the full support of all concerned."

Winehouse has cancelled a scheduled appearance at the NRJ awards ceremony in Paris tomorrow.

Hours earlier, her father Mitch revealed that a request to get his daughter sectioned was turned down because it could not be proved that she would harm herself.

Mr Winehouse told Vanessa Feltz's BBC Radio programme: "Obviously, this is something we have looked at. What you have got to understand is that Amy is nowhere near being in a position to be sectioned. She really has to be a danger to herself.

"You might consider that taking drugs is a danger to herself but, unfortunately, the authorities don't."

He added: "Part of the problem is she doesn't think she's got a problem. She thinks she can do what she does recreationally and get on with the rest of her life."

Mr Winehouse described his daughter's most recent drugs revelations - which came in Tuesday's edition of The Sun - as "horrible". The same day, he went with his daughter to the Capio Nightingale hospital in north-west London, which includes among its past patients the model Kate Moss and the singer Pete Doherty. Winehouse did not, at that stage, enter the clinic.

In video stills published by The Sun, the singer - who released the hit song "Rehab" in 2006 - was shown in a 19-minute tape allegedly smoking crack cocaine before seeing her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, appear in court to face charges of assault and perverting the course of justice.

Mr Fielder-Civil and an associate are accused of assaulting the landlord of a public house in Hoxton, east London, in 2006, before offering the victim money to withdraw his statement and leave the country.

In December, Winehouse herself was dragged into the case when she was arrested on suspicion of perverting justice, amid allegations that she might have provided the "hush" money to her husband.

The singer, who is loved for her undoubted talent but is frequently booed for her antics, was given a confidence boost last month when she was nominated for six Grammy Awards.

It was reported last night that she still plans to attend the ceremony in Los Angeles on 10 February - although she must first obtain a visa. Her chances of doing so have been thrown into doubt by the video and her arrest in Norway last October for possession of cannabis.

(c) 2008 Independent, The; London (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved. Winehouse Goes to Rehab As Father Says He Tried to Section Her
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