Amy Winehouse mother Janis Winehouse on 15‑year anniversary talks addiction

Janis Winehouse, now 72, spoke to The i Paper on the 15‑year anniversary of her daughter Amy Winehouse’s death. She said Amy was "the victim of her own success" and that a lack of self‑confidence pushed her toward alcohol, which she used to numb pain. Janis reiterated that "addiction is the master" and that many people mistakenly view quitting as a simple matter of willpower.

Amy Winehouse was found dead on 23 July 2011 in her Camden home in London at age 27. The coroner recorded an accidental alcohol poisoning, with a blood‑alcohol level more than five times the legal limit. After the tragedy the family created the Amy Winehouse Foundation and opened “Amy’s Place,” a recovery centre for young women, to turn the loss into a positive legacy. A memorial event was held at Camden Market, and Janis continues to work with the foundation, supporting resilience programmes in schools.

The interview also criticised the relentless media attention that surrounded Amy in the 2000s, which she believes added to the pressures she faced.