Examining Rehab 2 With Dr. Drew - Finale
As the second season of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew comes to a close, so does our commentary from Dr. Drew (for now, at least). Below, Drew comments on the episode’s major points — Jeff’s departure, Nikki’s uncertainty, Gary’s ostensible regression — and gives his final thoughts on all of this season’s patients.
How was it for you to have to throw Jeff out of the program?
It was horrible. I love Jeff. It was a hideous last straw, and I was sorry that it came to that. We spent quite a bit of time preparing Vicki to move away from him, to report this, to provide her a place to stay. At the last minute, she just caved in and went with him. The whole thing was very disappointing and sad. And then when he got home, he was doing a bunch of drugs, which is no surprise.
He did them to spite you, it seems.
Well, be aware that he called me about a month later to apologize for his behavior. He acknowledged how tough it all must have been for me. He told me he appreciates our relationship and he knows I care about him. So, we’ve gotten past all that.
Are you still in communication with him?
Well, I talked to his doctor and I heard he’s had another back surgery. I hope it cures him. My expectations are low.
Sober living is the topic of the episode. I know this was discussed a lot last season, but it seems emphasized even more this season.
Probably because we had a lot more people willing to go. Almost everyone was thinking about going. There was a little back-and-forth and the usual reaction to leaving treatment. Amy, a social worker I know, wrote me a letter once describing what it’s like when patients are about to leave treatment and they start demeaning the experience and the staff. She has a way of describing this to her students. She brings in a bird’s nest and says, “When the mother pushes them out of the nest and they leave for good, look what they leave behind: a bunch of bird s***.” They s*** in the nest just before they go.
You’ve alluded to it before, but at the point of graduation, was this group worse off than the last?
Well, I’d say this was a tougher group. There was a lot more going on with them. There were not as many young people. Young people have their own challenges. They have difficulty taking treatment seriously. But people who have been sick a long time have been sick a long time for a reason. The probability of a three-week course of treatment leading to successful outcome is pretty low.
Celebrity Rehab doesn’t really offer built-in happy endings.
No, it’s ongoing treatment. It’s like teaching someone how to take insulin. You don’t just walk away with the insulin after and say, “OK, you’re better.” They have to keep doing the treatment. It takes a long time, a lot of energy. It’s a big commitment.
What did you think about the apprehension of Nikki’s husband regarding treatment?
It was disappointing. I think he really doesn’t understand her condition. During family weekend, he suggested that his ninja powers could control her disease. I still think he kind of thinks that way. I understand he wants her home. I get that. But it was sad for me that he was pushing so hard the other way.
Gary starts talking about speaking at sober living versus enrolling in it. It seems like he regressed all the way back to the Gary of Episode 1.
I know! It was shocking. My favorite response was from Amber, during the last morning meeting, when Shelly was going around asking what people’s plans were. Amber goes, “I plan on going to a sober living where there aren’t people speaking there who aren’t sicker than me.” She is so funny sometimes.
Let’s go through your final impressions of the graduating Rehabbers. First to graduate was Tawny.
My concern with Tawny was that she was going to minimize her problem. She’d done well in some respects, but others–her way of thinking and minimizing–threatened her sobriety. She was ambivalent about sober living. Finally, she decided on an outpatient program. I didn’t feel that she had to attend sober living, because she’s had a lot of sobriety, she knows the program, she’s got a lot of structure and support. I wasn’t mortified that she wasn’t going to sober living, but I was worried.
Rodney?
Fellowship for him is the key. He just thrives in the treatment environment and around sober peers. The longer we can keep him in that environment, the better, so I was thrilled he was going to sober living.
It seemed like he was the most improved patient, compared to where he stared.
I don’t know about most improved, but he was a delightful surprise. And he was the steadiest. He never went off course.
Amber?
She’s very fragile and knows it. Mom needs more treatment, she needs more treatment. Sober living is key for her. She has to establish an independent life from her mom, and she’s never done that before. She’s still experiencing some withdrawal symptoms and she has a very powerful drive to use again. She really needs sober living.
Steven?
He’s never been sober in his life, practically. He needs months and months of stability. When he was talking about going on tour on the family weekend, it just seemed crazy to me. I can’t imagine something worse for him. The fact that he was open to sober living was crucial. Probably more than anybody, Steven needs structure, structure, structure
Sean?
I did not expect him to go to sober living, as he was not taking treatment seriously. But I kept pounding him about needing to own his life. He lives in the shadow of other people’s lives. The way he makes his living and his public persona, he hasn’t done the groundwork to build who he really is. I told him to own everything and just take a simple job somewhere, but he wanted none of that. I don’t see Sean being happy until he owns his own life. There are too many goodies to be had living his family’s life.
Are you hinting at the popular opinion of Sean, that he’s a spoiled brat?
I don’t experience it that way. I’m not sure if I blame him, even. He’s got so many goodies to chase, how do you pull him back to a simple life? Maybe he’ll find some sobriety. I hope so.
Nikki?
She’s like Steven, in that she really needs more treatment. She’s still, at this stage, very resistant to the treatment, still contemplating participation. She needed a lot more structure. She would say, “I don’t know how it’s going to be when I get back to Texas!” I’d go, “You’re gonna get a sponsor, go to meetings…” We’d say this everyday to her, and everyday it was like she’d never said it. It was frustrating.
Finally, there’s Gary.
Gary doesn’t have any intention to go to sober living, to Amber’s relief (laughs). I’m not sure Gary needed it. He had some interesting growth and agreed to put aside substances for good. He doesn’t have the part of the brain operating where the power of the disease operates. I’m not as concerned about him as some of the other ones. But you know, he needs structure, he needs to take his medication. I think he understands a few things that he didn’t before.
As a treatment provider, how satisfied were you with this experience?
More people go to sober living in this group and that’s always a good sign. As I said, this group is really tough and to have them all make a lot of progress made me pleased. They were able to do some work. Generally in rehab, you have a group of nine people, many of whom have some sort of nefarious motivation. They enter treatment because their family wants them to. They’ll come in and do nothing. They won’t even attend group. Half my unit is filled with people doing zero work, usually. To have a group of people that don’t believe they’re on death’s door, which is really what motivates people to attend groups, to have that and to have them participating, contemplating long-term sobriety…that’s amazing! People don’t understand that rehab is a long-term proposition. It’s unraveling a lifetime of addiction.
Be sure to check in tomorrow for some details regarding Sober House, the Celebrity Rehab spin-off that’s coming in 2009!
Related content
Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew show page
Celebrity Rehab videos and extras
December 21st, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Dr. Drew,
I am an alcoholic who now has 18 months of sobriety. I also have experience working with children with problems as a teacher and coach and I have worked briefly in the mental health field. Having watched your program and there are some things I found disturbing about it. You seem to have brought these people into rehab with the understanding they would be away from their spouses, families, and careers for three weeks while your real intention was to draw them into treatment and use this as an opportunity to “brainwash” them into going to sober living. The fact that this was not presented as a possibility to them BEFORE they came into treatment is disturbing and suspicious. The fact that you are following up with a program about the sober living experience coupled with you and your staffs “attachment” to the idea of the clients going into sober living is especially suspicious because it leaves the whole situation open to the perception that you guys are milking a cash cow. If I am wrong, I apologize, but you have to admit that it could seem that way to some people.
I am disturbed by the fact that Nikki only communicated the possibility of moving into sober living just before graduation. After witnessing her husband’s reaction I can only imagine how her children reacted to this and I believe you have a responsibility to talk to them and help them understand and cope with the continued absence of their mother. If you have done so this should have been made clear on the show. If you have not, you have a moral, ethical, and professional obligation to do so immediately. You are responsible for the impact of treatment on her marriage and family. As a mental health professional you are aware of this and of the negative impact of her absence on her children. You are responsible for that and owe it to THEM to do all you can to minimize the damage this will cause.
I am also disturbed by the fact you spent so little time during the show dealing with the career implications of treatment on the clients. This was a huge issue for Jeff and seemed to also be an issue for Steven. I have found this to be especially true for my own recovery. It would do the viewers good to see these dealt with in a thorough and honest manner.
Again the issue of going to sober living comes up here. Wouldn’t a situation that allowed clients to work on their careers, be with spouses and family, and still maintain structure in their lives throughout treatment, therapy, or a 12 step program be preferable to isolating from their careers and loved ones and putting them in a situation where they are obviously going to be unhappy (thus driving them to use again). The results of your first group seem to bear this out. It seems that those who followed the path I have suggested have done better than those who went to sober living.
I have one last but very important issue which disturbs me about this show and what you have done. Having watched you on various programs for years I have heard you speak on addiction several times. On one program I heard you say that after working with celebrity addicts for many years you found that compared to non-celebrities” the pressures which drive celebrities to addiction are nowhere near as difficult. Why not take a group of non-celebrities through treatment. This would be more inspiring to me and I would venture that there would be a lot of persons who would benefit from that. This would certainly dispel some of the suspicions that you and the clients were in this only for the money. I again apologize if this is not true, but it is the “500 pound gorilla in the room” that must be discussed. It would be especially effective to do such a project and place it on a Public/Educational television network or channel without commercials.
I hope that my comments have been interesting and are taken seriously, because I really do have some issues with what I have seen on your program, and in the approach to treatment of addiction as a whole. Please take them as observations, not criticisms, and convey my best wishes to all of the celebs and your staff. Though I have issues with what I observed, I did see humanness and caring exhibited on the show and hope that they will all go on to happy, productive lives.
Sincerely,
Tom Whitaker
Naperville, Illinois
December 21st, 2008 at 5:40 pm
I hope Amber has really cool friends. All celebrities like the fun lifestyle that does not also involve drugs and alcohol. Rehab is not cool now. It was like celebrity like fun for them. It almost was not real for them. I cannot complain that a long term Opiate addict wants to have good clean fun but was not washed appropriately to do so with her long term support group both IN and OUTSIDE of rehab. I recognize all withdrawal dangers, but that’s not also an excuse to give up, that’s an excuse to use isolation to learn how to control internal whims. Can you train a mad man to give up painkillers. Yes, take EVERYTHING away and you’ll learn why a good clean trip to a long term isolation ward is the only solution. You’ll see results in ONE month and they’ll never want to go back!
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:24 am
Dr. Drew your show has really touched me deeply as my own daughter ( age 23) has been battling addiction since she was a teenager. She has been in at least 4 rehabs and is now taking Subozone. She is trying to come off of that and decided drinking will help with that. We as a family have gone through every kind of tx with her and I am a social worker as well. I don’t see tx facilities as they are run for the average person, as helpful at all. I see it as a money maker for someone and without much of a positive outcome for the addict except, if they stay, to be somewhere safe for a month. It is nothing like your tx center where they get all the one to one counseling and medication to help with withdrawals. Most tx center are still stuck in old tx modes that really don’t work. My daughter literally saw a counselor about 30 minutes a day just to ” check in” and then hour after hour of AA meetings until people want to run out and use. If you aren’t rich it makes all the difference. I noticed it on the show Intervention as well. The difference in faciities can make the difference and standards should be raised since insurance companies are paying thousands for this scam anyway. I know in the end it depends on how the committed the person is to their recovery but they are so screwed up at that point they don’t have a clue what to do except feed that addiction. Yesterday I was driving home from my birthday party that my other daughter had for me and my addicted daughter had some “eggnog”. We were driving home in a white out blizzard and she tried to jump out of the car on the freeway. As we got closer to home and were going slower she did jump out. We thought she went under the car as we couldn’t find her and they we saw tracks where she had run off. We left her. A while later she came home. I really didn’t want to let her in. I can’t stand it anymore. We don’t know what to do except put her out on the street. That’s what Alanon says to do. Sounds easy huh?
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:43 am
I was wondering if the celbs get paid.
I saw sean at the ACDC concert and he was not soberdrunk
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:20 pm
I agree with the comments about Nikki’s tongue piercing - I thought maybe she had MS or something - it was very distracting and unattracive. Again I have to dump on Jeff Conaway - I see that there are many others that wish not to see him on any other similair show or CelebRehab 3 - what a waste. Also his girlfriend Vicky is just a leach and is equally destructive in their relationship. And for Sean to think that he can do this without “Sober Living” - what a young fool.
Kudos to Rodney King!! Even though he an addict he has more sense than the rest of the bunch put together.
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Although I’m only 16, I have seen the effects of drug abuse. Most people say that it’s a choice and it really is, but I believe that people go to these things because they have nothing left. My mom was put into rehab after taking too many perscription pills and driving with my little sister in the car. Anyone can stay clean, but the only way the can do it is with support from their peers. Drug and alcohol abuse not only affects the person who is doing it, but the people who are around it also. Because of my moms addiction, I now I have to work harder to be able to go to college because there is no money. My mom has been clean since July now and she has learned to cope with her problems other than drugs. She looks better and she is a happier person. I know she loved us before, but now it shows. For all the people on the show, if you really want this and want to be independent from drugs all you need is the mindset to do it. Your life is your own and if you want to live it to the fullest then staying off is the best way to go. And for you Jeff, you’re ruining your life. I see you on tv and you are not someone I want to be or want to be around. Everyone has a good side. You just have to find it. Please fix this addiction of yours and live the way you were made to live. You don’t need drugs to feel good. You make others feel good too.
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I actually met Jeff Conaway years ago, he did some commericial work for the company I worked for..Got to tell you he was charming, charismatic, sharp witted and had a boundless energy..I truly hope he gets better and that he gets rid of Vicky. She is no good for him and just wants his money
December 22nd, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Wow, what a powerful, moving show. I am a Licensed Psychotherapist and mother, so this show touches me on many levels. Dr. Drew is very empathetic, but I cringe when he asks leading questions to the group, such as “did it make you scared?” He seems to have a “scared” issue, because he asks the patients that frequently. It is also somewhat bothersome to me that he treats a group of individuals that can (likely) afford the treatment, when there are so many people in need of substance abuse help which they can’t afford, even with insurance coverage. And let’s be honest, only a few of these people are “celebrities,” that is “a celebrated person.” Nonetheless, having never heard of AMBER before, I found her story to be the most devastating, esp. when revealing where she ended up to pay for her drugs. She is so stunning and sweet. TAWNY I only knew from the car scene in the Whitesnake video, and her E True Hollywood Story. I felt so badly watching that E story because she lost custody at the time, to her estranged husband, due to abusing medication and erratic behavior. Also, insomnia can drive people to abuse meds. What about a sleep center and seeking tx from an endocrinologist. Regardless, she is equally beautiful and genuine. STEVEN I ached for when he had the session with his mom. She just didn’t get it!! But he has a loving wife. RODNEY I wondered if he had been treated for Post-Traumatic Syndrome, since the beating incident. SEAN I believe will have a long road ahead of him, simply because of his young age and the wealth in his family and issues with his dad, yet, in being so young, he has his whole life infront of him. JEFF also has a long road. Has he ever had tx for his trauma issues? Also with chronic pain, if he is not now, he should seek a Pain Center where they know about his addiction and therefore monitor his doses of meds very closely. NIKKI has a beautiful voice. I hope she can work through her grief issues. GARY seems sweet in his intention. A TBI dramatically affects ones life and using drugs doesn’t help. The psychiatrist that contributed this season was spot on with everything he said. I would have liked to have seen more of his intervention/contribution. I wish all those who participated, only the best. Remember that wherever you are is a good place to start! Thank you for letting us into the deepest parts of yourselves. Just remember to stay steady and take it one day at a time. Take Care and Be Well.
December 22nd, 2008 at 7:45 pm
There are multiple ways to provide care to those with substance use problems. Celebrity Rehab showcases one way that involves a caring and directive style toward the patients. That is, Dr. Drew and staff, tell the patients what they need to do and why they would be better off with a sober lifestyle than to continue their substance use.
Certainly there is editing of the raw video footage to provide an entertaining show as well as meet the goal of education. We the viewers are not seeing all the therapy that occurs. The moments we do see where a directive style results in patient resistance make for good drama and entertainment. However, if one wanted to avoid some of the patient resistance and objections there is the possibility that a guiding style might help. Perhaps help even with Jeff and Vicky. A guiding style avoids telling the patient what to do and rather solicits from the patient his or her reasons for change.
Motivational interviewing is a specialized subset of a guiding style and is an approach to helping people with substance use problems that has been researched over the past 20+ years. In comparison with a directive style it typically enhances outcomes by 20% and in some cases 300%. So for instance, in one study, those patients who had a one hour interview done in a motivational interviewing style prior to a 14 day inpatient treatment program, had one third the drinking 3 months after the inpatient treatment than those patients who just had the 14 day inpatient treatment program.
If one of the show’s goals is to provide education, then it might be useful to consider including this motivational interviewing approach. Although, it may not provide as much drama it would portray a more current and accurate state of what research has found to be helpful with substance use problems.
I have no idea of how this blog is read by production or health professional staff. I would be glad to provide references and additional information about a motivational interviewing approach.
December 22nd, 2008 at 9:50 pm
the thing that bothered me, was everyone saying that Jeff couldn’t kick Vicki with that force being in pain…..I beg to differ, I am in extreme pain from back injury and surgeries and all that goes along and I stay very limber and frankly I can kick higher than my head….. in pain…. so you can do whatever you want to do, I would pay for it later, but I just want to let everyone know that you can kick someone with pretty good force - in pain. No one can judge your pain level unless they actually have pain on a daily basis. Chronic pain people know what I am talking about. NO ONE CAN JUDGE UNTILL THEY HAVE WALKED IN OUR SHOES…..I am also on medication and I just worry about Jeff, I am on a very strict structured regimen and I try very very hard to not over take or do things that I shouldn’t like overdo myself so I have to take extra…it is very hard, but I have been on the same does for about seven years. I really have to work at it though, and there are times when I wish I could go up on dose…..but then I come back to earth - because it is my insulin…I wouldn’t be able to work or do the things I do without it, and the introduction of lyrica helped alot. But my pain dr. monitors me very well, when I changed Drs I asked for a strict - structured - disaplined Dr. that would not give in. Because I need to work and I can’t afford to have any screw ups. . . .
I just wish everyone who had to be on pain meds had the same regimin, so they wouldn’t get hooked and have several drs. and take tons of meds because it doesn’t help those of us who are struggling to be good patients. I just thank Dr. Drew for putting it out there for people so they know what happens and the stigma that goes along with, as well as the need for more compassionate healthcare workers who understand and have been there so they can help. It is a great show and very helpful.
December 23rd, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Hi Dr. Drew…I am a recovering alcoholic with 7 years of sobriety. I’ve watched your shows faithfully and I have to tell you that it really does portray addiction as it is -.cunning, baffling and powerful. Finally people are seeing what’s it’s REALLY like to be in rehab..Thanks for the great message- sobriety is the only way. God bless you for all you do for the sick and suffering alcoholic and addict..
December 24th, 2008 at 5:18 am
Well I like the show and it was nice to see Gary admit that he was a total addict but I want him to say he is sorry to every biker in California for makin us all wear helmets. Because he was an addict an a jerk and had to show how cool he was on a motorcycle he crashed and then cam out and campained to make us all pay for his mistakes I want him to say he is sorry and admit he was on drugs when he crashed. he took all of our freedom away and he needs to admit it!!
December 24th, 2008 at 9:52 am
to gary and jeff . you two are my favorite actors besides eddie murphy, i would like to
see you in some more movies together real soon ,dr drew thank you for all your hard work
with these fantanstic people, MERRY X-MAS TO ALL AND ALL A GOOD NIGHT…
December 26th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
inned help
December 29th, 2008 at 4:45 am
Dr Drew. There is a question I want to ask you. Why are you so intent on having Jeff be compleatly abstinant from all opiates? I am a heroin addict who has been to the best treatment rehabs, I did the 12 step thing, gave it my best shot for almost 12 years. However, I was a angry resentful woman who wanted to die. I switched my addiction from heroin with sex, gambleing, shopping, just to try to be happy. I am in a wonderful marriage to another addict, we traveled all over the Country, we practically lived in Las Vegas, but we were both miserable.. Anyway, to get to the point, Jeff is about my age, and he isi in awful pain,,I see it in his eyes. Why dont you suggest Methadone Maintenace for Jeff? The 12 sdteps arent for everyone, and I know Jeff will never get off of the opiates, so why make him do it “My way, or the highway?” The best thing I ever did for myself was getting on MMT…I would have died without methadone, I am 53 years old and I have been an opiate addict since the age of 14. It started with a narcotic called Synalgos DC, or Dihjydrocodeine in 1971, by 1979 I stuck a needle in my arm and that is DOC. I love heroin, but I am on a MMT and I no longer crave heroin or any other narcotic. The 12 steps may work for many prople, but not for me, and certainlu not for Jeff.Please, tell him about Methadone, let him make the decision..As addicts our pain threshold is very low, and I know he isnt any different than I am. He is going to die without medical treatment, and that treatment has to be either Methadone or suboxone,That will save his life. Treatment/rehab is not one size fitts all. I also have severe pain and I was taking 40+ 10/325 norcos a day plus shjooting 2 grams of stuff. I also belive Amber needs to be on Suboxone, and if that doesnt work, methadone, at least a 160 day detox, although she will be suffering from PAWS long after that,, I am not a doctor, I am juist a dope fiend who is trying to convince you to leave their options open,,
HottieAt53.
Happy Holidays
December 29th, 2008 at 5:01 am
Tolabrew.. What an ignorant statement. Locking someone up in isolation? Get a grip dude, if anything, that would pi** any addict off..Also didnt you know that a person who isnt in good health can die from going cold turkey? Are you even an addict?? A real addict wouldnt make the ignorant statements that yiou did. Now here is a really scary question Are you a substance abuse counselor? If you are God help your patients…..And get yourself some help while your at it
HottieAt53
December 29th, 2008 at 7:38 am
In responce to Bobin PGH..Get real sweetie..These people are sick, in WD’s, and they dont give a crap about how they look. Have you ever been to rehab? Are you even an addict? If you were, you would realize that clothing is the last thing on anyones mind.I saw no sign of gang apparal on any of the guys, and as for the women, what is the problem with the way they were dressed? My God, your post is so petty, and the statement about the tattoos, this is life people have tattoos. Did you expect them to have their tattoos taken off, or just hidden? I have tattoos, and if anyone made me cover them, or made a remark, I would be very upset..This isnt church, it is realaliy…These are dope fiends. not sunday school students..And my favorite comment of yours about smoking.I would love to see the proof you have that quiting smoking enhances recovery. While I admit I was in rehab over 25 years ago, the staff would have never told anyone that they should quit smoking, on the contrary, zi know for a fact that anyone who goes into rehab that is a smoker, if you take away their right to smoke, they will leave in a New York second..If you want to watch real addicts in a real setting, you have to quit being so prissy. Man, this is LIFE….And BTW, these women arent your daddys daughters, so what was with the my dad would have told them to go “put some clothes on” They are adults anyway. My daddy stoped being able to tell me what to wear when I was 14 years old….
HottieAt53
December 29th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Tom, you hit the nail right on the head..I didnt hear anything about sober living until the last few shows. When I was in rehab years ago, I was pressured into going into sober living, but I decide d against it, and I made the right choice for me. I thought it was really horrible the way Nikki was pressured to go to the sober living in LA. She lives in Texas, she has children and just got married. If anything, she should have been offered a similar living situation in her home town. I think it was wrong and selfish what they did to her..And what is the big deal about sober living. I can understand if an addict had no home or family to go to, or if someone in their home was using..I dont believe in the 12 steps, but I was involded with it for many years, and I know that addicts will use when they want, in rehab, sober living, or at home..I also know addicts that just walked into a meeting from the streets, never went to rehab or sober living, and they didnt use. I dont care how anyone gets clean. 12 steps, methadone, suboxone, Religion, or just quit. Whatever works for that person..There is no right or wrongg way
HotttieAt53
January 8th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I think Jeff’s girlfriend should have pressed charges for what he did to her. He should go to Jail because he is a coward and hides behind his back issues for everything. His problems seem to be more mental than anything else. He is a self absorbed head case. If he went toail for his actions he wouldnt have to worry about dropping his soap since he is already bent over! I think he makes a good thing like celeb rehab his personal stage for his outbursts.
January 11th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
I have 16 days sobriety again. I fell into addiction again after 6 weeks of sobriety post-rehab. I was in rehab for 21 days and I know that it’s not easy. It was easy to maintain sobriety because I was away from the normal daily issues. I have to attend meetings to help me and work my recovery. It never happens overnight. I didn’t realize I was an addict/alcoholic until my husband entered rehab and I realized I was still drinking. I’m struggling everyday of sobriety. I guess 1 in 31 addicts make it. I have to keep trying. The first celeb rehab made me consider the fact I had the same problem. I remember watching it loaded and drunk. It helps me to see that others have difficulty maintaining sobriety. I wish my family would understand how hard it is. I’ve moved across country for a job and my husband and I are separated for about six months and I think it will be good to solidify our individual sobriety. Thanks to Dr. Drew for your program. I’ve listened to you on and off for the past 20 years. I loved you on KROQ. I love to listen to the podcast now. Good luck to all of us addicts.
January 13th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
stephanie…. i so empathize with your posting…. i am in recovery and am working on the idea of living a sober life… the only way i can do this (and it sounds so stupid) is one day at a time…. it is a way of life . . .suggestion??? if i may 90 meetings in 90 days, and if you don’t have a sponsor yet get the phone number of someone who looks like they are enjoying sobriety. As far as getting anyone who is not an alcoholic/addict to understand - FORGET IT … they don’t understand us or what drugs and alcohol do to us.. I don’t know where people get statistics since we are anonymus but if you want sobriety you can have it . . . all you have to do … is do the work… one day at a time..simple but not easy . . .i have relapsed several time since i came into the program in 2006 . . for me the key is getting right back to the meetings and getting involved . . . we are no different than the people on the show as far as our disease. I started getting well when i truly realized that i can not do this thing alone . . i need help … once i accepted that things got a little easier . .anyway good luck and enjoy the journey…. best wishes
January 16th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Stephanie, I am 115 days clean…post rehab. Just a word of encouragement to u…It can be done! If someone would have told me last year at this time that I would have gone to rehab and remained sober 115 days…I’d have laughed in their face! I will say, its been hard, but I wouldn’t trade it for the 10 years that I spent in hell…in captivity! Watching this show makes me sick, but in a good way cause it keeps me in check, and it helps me remember that I don’t want to ever go down that road again!
Just remember, we are addicts and as they say in rehab…”ONE IS TWO MANY, AND A THOUSAND IS NEVER ENOUGH!!!!”
Good luck 2 U and God bless
January 21st, 2009 at 5:26 pm
I watched the last episode of Celebrity Rehab II and let me tell you something! Seth, you’re a show off puke! What a poor excuse for a Man and a Father! You actually THINK you’re cool don’t you Seth!!! Are you a closet Homosexual on TOP of your dirty drug using?! That poor little innocent boy that YOU managed to put the drugs aside long enough to make, {or were you high when you made him too}?! Anyway, with a FATHER, like YOU SETH, who needs a DEADBEAT DAD?! YOU SETH, are just plain, SHOWING OFF! It was BAD enough that you felt the NEED to SHOW OFF and smoke CRACK on national tv so your little boy will be able to eventually WATCH YOU!!!…and believe this SETH PUKE, his friends WILL make sure he sees you and they’ll even push the rewind button on the DVD player and show him what a LOSER you are, over and over again. Well, if you didn’t teach YOUR SON ANYTHING ELSE IN HIS LIFE SO FAR, YOU’VE TAUGHT HIM ONE THING FOR SURE, AND THAT IS…HOW TO SMOKE CRACK!!! YOU AND ALL YOUR COLORFUL TATTOOS<<>>ALL THAT MONEY COULD HAVE GONE FOR SUPPORT TO YOUR SON! Don’t even TRY to retaliate by saying something STUPID like, “Hey, I support my Son”! YOU SUPPORT him alright! You’re the 1st supporter of his POSSIBLE, FUTURE, DRUG HABIT! You can almost make a side bet, he’ll be a like father like son case…thanks to you..you idiot seth! YOU’VE instilled those bad habits in him SETH puke! OH and wow! I could have hurled when you were in the PET SHOP and you said….”I’m gonna SMOKE CRACK in this store”! You wanted to MAKE sure that EVERYBODY watching KNEW exactly WHAT you were doing! HOW PATHETIC! You belly crawler! Also, you CLOWN, when you were on the ROOF outside of the Rehab house…You made enough noise for the entire NEIGHBORHOOD to hear you! BECAUSE, you WANTED to be HEARD! <<<showing off again! You looked like a CLOWN up there when your FAT head was in plain view of the camera and you didn’t duck down until you were SURE that the Camera person SAW YOU! HAAAAAAAAAA I ALSOLAUGHED AT YOU ON THE SOBER HOUSE EPISODE when you said to, {The House Mom, whatever her name is}, that’s the way it will be if I do something like that! The House mom came back on you GOOD and YOU didn’t like it ONE bit OLD CRACKER SMACKER! Anyway, she said to you, “why don’t you just make up your own rules then, because you know everything, … that’s why your here isn’t it! Your face flushed with embarrassment. I laughed AT you AGAIN! One thing is for sure..one LOSER sucks up to another LOSER. You’re sucking up with Steven Adler now. Adler is as big of a show off LOSER as you SETH!…and then there’s AMBER…Amber is once again on another reality show to promote her {what she obviously considers, her expertise of {ORAL SEX}!!! Oh what a sleazy TRAMP! Mary Carey is back with her stuttering and stammering again! EH EH EH UH UH UH UH …then she rambles on in monotone and looks at people with that lazy crossed eye. What a FREAK!! Well, it shouldn’t take long before you SETH, feel the need to TOP Steven Adler being on Heroin AT The Sober House. What’s your next Gig? Will it make me feel like hurling like your other stupid acts?! Adler, if you’re reading this…TAKE A BATH, you look like you stink and are full of GERMS! EWWWWW, I can ALMOST smell you now, you NASTY piece of crap. You and SETH ought to sit around and hold each other and play little flirt games together some more. I wonder how long it’ll take before they catch both of you on some filthy drugs, spreading your filth around, spewing vomit and just plain sitting your nasty stinking butts on the furniture and filthing up the sheets together? There are a select few that so far seem like they are there to really get help, Nicky and Rodney King being a couple of them trying. The rest of you will do ANYTHING to get Camera time and a free place to eat and live, you SCAVENGERS. i’LL BET YOU WON’T EVEN CATCH UP ON CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS WHILE LIVING AT SOBER HOUSE FREE AND GETTING PAID! You little Gerbil Seth.. you AND Adler, a couple of Gerbils! Keep on SUCKING Amber, if you were THAT good at ORAL SEX AMBER…You wouldn’t have time to show people how you do it on tv, you’d be too busying answering the phone to go meet your clients to give them more…HAAAA, You can’t even establish a following for oral sex! Most of you are LIFELONG LOSERS. You’ll never amount to anything more than what you are….you’ve proved that …HOW many times now?!
January 27th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
I NEED HELP DR.DREW!!! MY BOYFRIEND OF SEVEN YEARS IS A VERY TALENTED GUITAR PLAYER IN A WELL KNOWN BAND WITH A VERY WELL KNOWN SINGER.HE IS A MAJOR ALCOHOLIC AND I KNOW YOU CAN HELP HIM!! I DO NOT WANT HIM TO DIE!!!!!!!!!! HOW CAN I CONTACT YOU? THANK YOU,LORI
February 4th, 2009 at 7:00 am
I have watched episodes throughout both seasons and found myself flabergasted that you could call this show treatment.
I am an internationally certified addictions counsellor and I have to say I have never seen treatment look like that. The behaviours, dress, and lack of discipline by staff were certainly not conducive to helping any of those people change their lives.
to me this show looked more like Springer than rehab.
February 21st, 2009 at 2:05 am
I Think your show is nice and i hope the people realy get help. staying clean is everyday job .never stops the drug always wants you back hold on for the ride. sincerly paulette
March 13th, 2009 at 2:32 am
It sucks that it’s over so quick. It felt like we where all a family kinda weird i know. I hope everyone does ok mainly Steven. I enjoyed all the episodes. I hope Mary doesn’t get back with that jerk, he is no good for her. Amber i hope that you can pick yourself back up, you are really pretty get back into modeling. Nicki get back into singing you have an amazing voice. Andy you better stick to your word, sons can only forgive so much before they are done. Seth you have a great tallent put it to use and do it sober you sound better. Rhodney i know you will do great for you and other people, God blessed you with a kind heart. Steven my man Steven where do i start? Well you are my favorite person on the show. I really hope you pull it together for your health and your wife. Finally Dr. Drew, i think it’s amazing how you can take the time and help people the way you do. i know it’s your job but it shows that you really want to help these people which is awesome. well good luck to all. Your Fan Drew
April 26th, 2009 at 3:43 am
Dr.Drew,
forget about all the problems and focus on the real issues. I love you and Adam C. but I have a deep feeling for Jimmy K. He needs some help and his sister Jill is seriously down and out so can you help her out? Work on the issues at hand and only then can you consider yourself a serious love line expert.
Thx,
T
August 2nd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
I don’t know why but I love Steven, he reminds me of a child.
Vicki on the other hand is a nut!