Dr. Drew is watching! On the first episode of Sober House, the Celebrity Rehab spin-off/continuation that finds a group of Drew’s patients taking the next step in the journey of sobriety, sober living, the doctor informs us, “I will know if anything is going on in the sober house.” And now that the show’s airing, he really knows. Despite having a reduced role in this show, due to the patient autonomy sober living requires, Drew still sees his patients and, most importantly for us, has insight and opinions on their situations. As he did with Rehab, Drew will provide his episode-specific commentary each week to this blog.
Was this show your idea?
It was about as much my idea as Celebrity Rehab was, in that it came from a conversation between me and [producer] John Irwin. It was, again, me going, “Ehhh, I don’t now. I’m not sure this is possible.” And him going, “Yes, we’re gonna do it.” That’s when I came up with the idea of them letting me do what I do: outpatient treatment with them while they’re in sober living. That’s normally the way it’s organized.
How long will you typically stay with one of these patients? Years and years?
Probably not years, but months and months. As long as they’re attached to our program, I’m involved in some way. But in Celebrity Rehab, I’m much more upfront with the care than I am in real life. In real life, people like Bob and the other counselors do more of the day-in-day-out care than I do.
Is a sober house the same thing as a halfway house?
Yeah, they don’t really use that term anymore, though.
Why?
I’m not exactly sure, but the concept is a little more evolved. I think “halfway house” almost sounds criminal. “Sober living,” is clearer – it’s a place you go to live sober. Got it. Done. Check.
This is a 30-day program. Is that the norm for sober living?
It’s a common amount of time. I prefer three to six months.
Did you have any concerns with making this show that differed from ones you might have had with Rehab?
Nah, it was the same. It’s the same exact deal, just a different environment and different issues. I know how this all goes. I know what happens when they go to sober living. S*** starts happening. Stuff starts unraveling. It’s the nature of the beast. I thought it was important to show this, though. When people talk about, “Does treatment work?” this is the part most people don’t even get. You see how they unravel [on the show] when we’re on top of them. If someone just returns to work after spending so many days at a treatment facility, forget it. No way they’re gonna stay sober. My sweeping goal in this is to show more of the story of how treatment works.
Were there any cast members in either of the Rehab seasons that you were disappointed to find would not be signing on for this?
Tawny. But Season 1 provided more disappointments, it seems like. God, they all needed it. I was sorry that, coming off Season 1, Brigitte didn’t go. It turned out OK, but she was the one I really wanted to go. Chyna, I was hoping for, because she hadn’t done anything yet! With some patients, you’re just trying to keep them in treatment long enough so that something happens. She was one of those. Jeff Conway, sure. I would have loved Vicki to go. A lot of Season 2 went, which is the good news.
Did you have any association with the house manager, Jennifer Gimenez, before this show?
Yeah, she was my patient. It’s sort of the opposite situation that I have with Andy Dick, who comes on this show later in the season: Andy has been my friend for a long time and I’ve resisted treating him. I told him that if he came in, we had to end the friendship so that I could be his doctor. With Jennifer, I was her doctor and when this came up, I said, “Look, now I can’t be your doctor. You’re now a peer and that’s that.” And she agreed to change the nature of our relationship. It worked out well. She did a really good job in the house.
Did she have experience in running a sober house?
No, but that’s not how sober houses work. Sober houses are often run and owned by recently sober people. They’re usually people who are doing well in their recent sobriety that need a way to pay rent, really. It’s a job for them. It’s usually someone with a couple of years or more of sobriety. But fewer than 10 years.
Was it just her personality, then, that gave you confidence in her ability to do this job?
She’d done really well in her sobriety. She struggled. She was a tough patient that I thought could really relate to this group. And she’s an actress, so I thought it was a perfect match.
In one voice over, you say, “I will know anything that goes on in the sober house.” Dr. Drew is watching! That sounds foreboding.
(Laughs) I kinda do. I know what’s going on there but I’m not directly responsible 24/7 like I am in a hospital. It’s really up to them at this point.
Seth enters testing the rules. That’s a bad sign.
It was sad to me. I thought he was going to be serious this time. It’s really bad. It gets to the point where I sit him down and I say, “I love you, but you’re dead. You’re dying. And I have to learn to deal with that.” He was a struggle this time, which surprised me. I really thought Seth was getting serious about his sobriety.
Was it that the week between wrapping Rehab 2 and starting this was detrimental?
No. I could tell he was fragile at the end of CR2. When he came on, he was a mess. I could barely communicate with him. He barely pulled out of that.
Steven is even worse than Seth. He arrives with needles.
He had a huge relapse.
You aren’t nearly as concerned by this on the show as Jennifer is.
Understand that there are several things Jennifer has to contend with that I don’t. She’s never done this before. I’m used to my patients relapsing. Also, she’s responsible for the integrity of the household, that it stay together. And finally, she’s evoked! She’s an addict and she knows that being around drugs could make her use. That’s the big piece people don’t factor in. If you aren’t an addict yourself, you can’t imagine how provocative it is to have someone using around you. It’s really rough.
You say that it isn’t uncommon for patients to show up to sober living high, but I don’t know, Dr. Drew. Heroin-high seems like a huge deal. It’s not like he took some hits of weed before walking in the door.
That’s your cultural perception. It’s all bad. Somebody’s shooting dope? It happens. Nothing new under the sun for me.
Did you expect to be called in so soon?
It didn’t surprise me. The main reason I was there is because people, including the producers, didn’t really understand my role. It needed to be straightened out to the patients even that this is a new level of care. They are now independent. Autonomy is the name of the game. Normally, I wouldn’t come in. I’d say, “Call the cops or something.” Get him out. In this case, I felt like I needed to make things more explicit so they understood the program.
I guess that’s why I asked if there were additional concerns. Autonomy for addicts means more likelihood of using which means more potential danger.
It’s not as though we planned that but it’s part of what happens. We just bring them back in. We put them right back in the hospital. It’s part of the deal. But yeah, it’s treacherous. It’s not like, “Oh well.” It’s a real part of treatment.
Steven ends up staying at Will’s that night. Is that an orthodox practice?
Well, at that point, Will isn’t really working for the hospital. Someone working at a hospital can only have one relationship with a patient, and that is of their caretaker. Period. In Will’s case, he was kind of serving as a peer there. A muscled peer. To have a peer take a patient overnight when they’re loaded, that’s standard. That happens all the time. I like the fact that it kicked in. It’s how AA works. They scoop up the people and they support them.
Related content
Sober House show page
Sober House videos and extras
67 responses to to Examining Sober House With Dr. Drew – Episode 1
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This show makes me wonder what idiot comes up with the idea of a coed sober house. Great for drama and TV, but not for sobriety. I see places where I am that are coed and nobody is sober but it works for the jerks trying to make a few more bucks not having separate facilities. Obvious;y, these people have money so that isn’t an excuse so what is the deal. It’s so they can exploit these sick (!&~&~&%+#^^@~+^ ers for TV.
Dr Drew, I’m so surprised you didn’t know that Seth and Steven were like mixing oil and water! Steven had not finished recoverey and Seth will never recovery!
Shame on you!
Mary Rhodes
I have to say that Steven and seth together won’t work!!!! Another thing is that Seth should NOT be in the sober house with only a week of sobriety…But being they care more about the money (THE SHOW) than helping people ,I quess thats whats gonna happen.
I really didn’t want to watch this episode because seeing Steven messed up kinda got me a little sick feeling.I am hoping for the best for him.He’s the kinda guy you just want to hug.
I have been sober for 5 years and it took a lot of work and a lot of support from family and friends and thats what he needs.
GOOD LUCK STEVEN
Hey guy’s I am in Pennsylvania and am in recovery.I worked in an co-ed rehab facility for 3 yrs.
Prior to working in a rehab facility I was in the asbestos demolition field. I was injured in 1997 on the job which resulted in 3 back surgeries including spinal fusion.I suffer from chronic pain.
I want to say that I am very proud of all of you for publicly allowing your problems and very personal issues to be exposed.Whether or not you relapse or like steven show up using and with drugs on you I give you all the credit in the world.I watched Shifty in the Celebrity Rehab episodes while he smoked crack and ended up on the roof.There is something inside of usll that wants to be clean and sober, I would go to meetings and still be using.I would also see others high at the meetings and the words I could give to them and give to myself was to keep showing up and the hope is that eventually we will get it.We may fall 100 times but keep trying.Another thing I would like to say is all of you take a good look at Jennifer Gimenez,Will,Shelly,and Bob Forrest they have and would go to the ends with all of you to receive the message.I commend you all.Now I would like you all to take a good look and thought about Dr.Drew,here is a guy who has nothing to gain wants and expects no rewards and puts every one of you before himself and his life.Can you imagine what we would feel like to be like him?To care when most do not,to help even we have done him wrong.Dr.Drew is one of a kind there are not too many who are understanding,non-judgemental and caring about a person who he has just met.I believe his only want from any one of us addicts is for us to have LIFE!!! US TO HAVE LIFE,Can you imagine someone that cares about us lieing,cheating,stealing drug addicts.So I wish you all the best and hope to see all of your careers success.Keep on Keepin on.Rodney hang in there bro.Much love. TONY P.A.
It was nice, but somewhat unrealistic, that Will took Steven in for the night; in many real-living sober living facilities, Steven would have been out the door and on his own. A rude awakening that the residents addicts and relapse’ers need. Seeing previews of upcoming episodes justifies that giving Steven a break with Will only enables Steven’s belief that someone else will save him; thus keeping him from hitting bottom.
My daughter was kicked out the door of a sober living facility, in a large city that she was totally unfamilar with, given only enough $$ for 1 night at a local homeless shelter. Yes, I rescued her and drove the 200 miles to pick her up; it took another year of not enabling her before she ended up incarcerated for 9 months; where she finally hit a bottom. The littlest “help” turns to enabling for an addict. I’ve had to learn/trust to let her survive herself. I’ve had to put my faith in a “higher power” and into her that she could do this better without my help.
She has celebrated 2 years of freedom from incarceration and continues longer and longer success at sobriety. She has had to learn how to rescue herself from “chronic relapsing.” Each period of sobriety is longer and healthier, learning more and more that she can survive herself and learning that the 12-step program, if you want it, “works . . . if you work it.” But you’ve got to want it and work it every minute of every day. You have to do the work.
I’ve been to rehab twice, and have had 6 years of continues sobriety, then got married quit working my program and guess what, relapsed, I have been a “chronic” relapser for 5 years, this show has helped me see me. to see these addicts so deep into their addiction, well, its like looking in a mirror, and for that I thank Dr Drew, how many of us out here has this show helped?. That being said, I #$)%!)@+!#^@^&# ume the stint at Sober living is over for these folks and they are back out in the world, for better or worse. So , mind if I speculate a bit on who’s clean and who’s not. Maybe Rodney, he looked like he has the best shot. If Steven and Seth aren’t dead, then it is a miracle. The rest, well unless Mary has quit porn, then she is still using, same with Amber, she’s just too pretty and men will use her. The girl from Americian Idol, She may have a shot, her Mom dying has to be a major wake up call. Good luck and God bless you all and all of us addicts still suffering.
I do not understand why you would chose to jepordize everyones recovery for one person. I am an addict and have 19 months clean, it took me 20 years of running in and out of the program to get it….but I finally wanted it, that was the key. Steven Adler does not want it….he wants to continue to hide behind the dope…and be a selfish child. He came into the sober house loaded…he was loaded in the taxi….he could have put EVERYONE of those people at risk…..that was a big day for them, and he could have caused each and everyone of them to relapse.
Also in seeing the previews….why would it be acceptable for them to go to bars? When we get clean we change our playmates, playgrounds and playthings…..I see three people that seem to really want it….and they deserve the chance to change….if it is acceptable to continue to behave like they are using….THEY WILL USE!
I am trying to share my experience, strength and hope…..I am not famous, far from it…I live a somewhat normal life, and I am happy today. This happiness comes from the freedom I have received from working the 12 steps, speaking with my sponsor, going to meetings, getting involved in service work….taking a meeting to a womens treatment facility….and most importantly I found a higher power and I do not use NO MATTER WHAT!
Your show shows me how sick I have been and how sick I can get again. Thank you for helping me with my recovery.
Seth can get this…it is never to late….these guys don’t need a Sober House,,,,they need BootCamp!
Jennifer,
I’ve been in recovery for 10 yrs.and I just watched the first episode of Sober House. It was painful to watch and I truly understand the emotions you were feeling when the incident with Steven occurred. Ohmygod! Talk about powerlessness! It’s not a good feeling when you feel that your own recovery is being compromised. Remember all the work it has taken to establish your foundation and what it takes for you to maintain it. I know that the decision to bend for Steven goes against the grain in the recovery world and a majority of addicts watching was probaly having a fact attack and a whole lot of indignation!!!! If you are active with the twelve steps, maintain those principles above everything else. Everything in life is trial and error, it’s what we learn from the errors is what counts. RELAPSE IS NOT A REQUIREMENT! Dr. Drew in all his infinite knowlege and expertise is so aware of this. My concern is the promotion of the relapse and the set up when a using addict becomes aware that that consequences can be compromised. I’m sorry that’s not a reality.The desire may be there, it is not our job to question but Dr. Drew please don’t compromise this process because of a status. Maybe you guys should incorporate a segment like Tyra mail, only it should be “Reality Mail” from anonymous recovering addicts that can share some real strength, experience, and hope. I remember early in recovery while attending a Narcotics Anonymous Convention that an addict who was a main speaker shared about the pain of loving and supporting a son in prison who cut his grandmothers ( his Mother’s) throat because she refused to give him money for drugs. The pain was all over him as he spoke but the hope shot was that he himself did not use. Perhaps if some of these people could here some hope shots from people less fortunate about the vicious cycle.Maybe they would get some clarity about what real pain is and the solutions we use to relieve it. We share our strength!
I agree with JanM who commented that continuing to give Steven Adler “breaks” enables him and keeps him from hitting rock bottom.
I was so upset by Episode One that I could not sleep: I just kept seeing Steven Adler, high out of his mind and on his way to an early grave.
Here is a guy who has lived a life that most people only dream about: talented; member of a great rock band; money; world travel etc… What does he do with it? – piss it away on drugs. Where’s his gratitude? Wake up Steven! What a waste of talent and heart.
I just want to send out a good loving support vibe to all the people who are struggling with addiction. I want to see everyone succeed. To really re-build a life. And to thrive. There are people who care about you! It has been eye opening for me and I care and am pulling for all the people that are on the shows. And to those that aren’t. I care.
I am a recovering alcoholic and I love this show and Celebrity Rehab. I am always afraid I am going to relapse. This shows makes me understand and helps me with my recovery.
COMMENT FOR AMBER: Please take CAN’T out of your vocabulary. You are a very intelligent woman or else you would not have been able to survive in the modeling or escort world. Take the lessons you learned in those worlds and put them to work now–survival of the fittest. In order to be fit you must be drug and alcohol free–sober. Tell yourself, and for all intents and purposes it is true, that you have an allergy to drugs and alcohol. Society, family and friends understand an allergy–you will not be pressured to use (too much) if you stick to the allergy story. Meanwhile find other things to stimulate the pleasure center in your brain. Believe it or not, they think sugar may do it–chocolate anyone? Also, watch your hormone levels–they can really wreck havoc with women’s moods and thoughts. When you can, have a thorough physical exam–it is important to know your numbers, i.e., cholesterol, blood pressure, weight, etc., as well as having a pap, mamogram and full blood workup. You must continue to love yourself and take care of your body so you can enjoy the rest of your life. You have what so many women yearn for: physical beauty, intelligence, and personality–please don’t throw yourself away. Keep up the good work! I’m sure you can make it in the “real” world!
omg this is very scary with stephen there , hes a mess. i would let him go. its not fair for the others there
My experience was different – I was a soldier in the army, stationed in germany. I did 6 weeks of inpatient rehab at landstuhl army regional medical center, with a full year of outpatient counseling and weekly group therapy sessions. I understand that most insurance companies won’t pay beyond 28 days (hence the &*_+~(“^++$_~& le for the movie), but it seems that the numbers that landstuhl had success-wise were way better than the standard rehab rates of 1 in 10. At least I can say that approaching 15 years sober was nowhere in my mind during rehab graduation. Now it’s a reality. I wonder if the system used in the US should be lengthened or intensified – it does seem a bit brief.
This week’s episode hit me between the eyes. I know it isn’t as dramatic or as sexy to be a food addict, but when I watched Steven Adler struggle this week, I realized he is going through the same thing I have been going through this last year.
I have lost 138 pounds in 51 weeks, by eating food as fuel, without any kind of surgery. But I still eat for COMFORT, DIVERSION, AND AS A PAIN KILLER. I knew I was an addict and used food for all kinds of reasons. But when I saw Adler battle his demons, I saw myself in the mirror of his eyes. Yes, I can relapse any time. I need to really deal with my emotional issues.
I am also convinced that if left untreated, my addiction will blossom into drugs and alcohol. My dad was an alcoholic, my brother is a white knuckle sober drug addict, and the whole family has some kind of addiction or another to deny reality.
I am looking into going into a recovery program other than the weight loss programs. I want to get into a God centered 12 step program and work the steps so that I no longer rely on food to medicate me. I am a food addict, and before episode 2, I didn’t realize what that really meant for me.
Dr, Drew,
It’s totally ridiculous how naive you are in dealing w/ people like Stephen. You seem willing to risk the marole of the entire house just to satisfy one loser/liar who obniously is there for all the wrong reasons. What is the matter w/ you. He should have been booted from the house the minute needles and stash were found. He has no respect for you or the program and obviously feels he can manipulate everyone. Meanwhile, the rest of the house see how he is being coddled like an infant and that there are no consequences to using. Wow, he had to go to Will’s for one night. What consequences. He is THAT important to the shiw? You seem to care more about ratings than about the patients being affected by Stephen’s behavior, And then you have the audacity to tell everyone ELSE HOW TO BEHAVE WHILE ALLOWING sTEPHEN TO GET AWAY WITH BREAKING WHATEVER RULES HE WANTS. dON’T YOU HAVE ANY RESPECT FOR THE LADY RUNNING THE HOUSE WHO SAYS HE SHOULD GO? I GUESS RATINGS ARE MORE IMPORTANT. YOU HAVE TO STOP THIS “POOR STEPHEN. hE ONLY USED ONCE.” rIGHT. aND HE’LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN. gET REAL. YOU’RE NOT HELPING HIM OR ANYONE ELSE BY ALLOWING HIM TO LIE AND USE AND LAUGH ABOUT IT.
Dr. Drew,
What is your problem? Stephen doesn’t deserve a break. He deserves to be kicked out just to show you care about the OTHER nenbers of the group. Is Stephen the only one that matters? Or is it ratings that matter? Why don’t you just give him a room and let him do drugs for as long as he wants? One night at Will’s should cure him forever. Grow up Dr. Drew. It’s you that needs rehab from being such a wimp.
I could tell Steven was high in the taxi on the way over. It made me sad to see he was already having a relapse. That affects EVERYONE in the sober house, including Jennifer. I think it is totally sending the wrong message to give Steven a break like that. He needs to know there are consequences for his actions. I think it sends the wrong message to everyone else in the house that its ok to use/relapse, because you’ll be cut a break.
With that being said, I really DO want to see everyone make it and overcome their addictions once and for all!! It is not worth it to throw your life away for a few minutes of a high.
Dr. Drew, Jennifer was doing the right thing with kicking Stephen out. He brought heroin into the house…what about Amber(opiate addict)? or Jennifer, Seth, Will?????Is it b-cuz he is a “celebrity”?? She was looking out for her and the others and I am a recovering addict and when it comes to my sobriety, I am very selfish and only care about my well being and if someone is jepordizing my sobriety…I will not tolerate it!!!!!!!!!
Steven obviously hasn’t gone through all of his money completely, by that I mean he hasn’t hit rock bottom broke. As long as an addict has the money to buy his drug of choice, getting sober is twice as hard. Though I’m pulling for him, I don’t think he will make it. I’m praying for him!!!!
I’m wondering if anyone that is calling for Steve to be kicked out of the Sober House even bothered to the rules (Seth sounded very happy to learn he could get high twice without getting kicked out) or listen to Dr. Drew’s explanation.
The deal is three strikes and then you are out. That includes getting high. Drew said several times people show up high at sober houses, so don’t be surprised when that happens. The only question here was if Steve needed to go somewhere and detox before moving in to the house. Getting him out of the house while he was high was good because the others don’t need to see him because that is a big trigger to relapse.
Steve Adler has one more chance with a pass and the third time he breaks the rules he has to leave.
TMZ.com reported that Steven Adler’s July 18 arrest came about after the former GUNS N’ ROSES drummer got into a “confrontation” at the house where he was living as part of the cast of “Sober Living” — a spin-off of VH1′s “Celebrity Rehab” — and a member of the “Sober” staff called the cops, who came and popped Adler on an outstanding warrant. According to the site, the staff contacted the police because Adler was allegedly doing drugs in the house.
David Weintraub, Steven’s manager, told TMZ.com, “Steven Adler’s arrest was an unfortunate situation that didn’t have to occur in the context of him starring in a television show.”
Los Angeles police spokesman Richard French told the &!)!(+@_&`($)@& ociated Press that the 43-year-old Adler was arrested around 4 a.m. on July 18 by officers called to a home where a man reportedly was creating a disturbance and refusing to leave.
The warrant stems from a 2005 case where Adler was charged for being under the influence of a controlled substance and driving on a suspended license. He then sealed his fate by missing a court date in April of 2006.
“Sober Living”, which was described as a cross between “Surreal Life” and “The Real World”, reportedly features a number of “Celebrity Rehab” alumni living together in a luxurious Beverly Hills mansion for 30 days while they try to rebuild their careers without drugs and alcohol.
Like “Celebrity Rehab”, the new show will prominently feature Dr. Drew Pinsky (“Loveline”), who oversees the celebs during their stints in televised rehab.
Steven Adler last month underwent detoxification and treatment at a center in the Los Angeles area on the second season of the hit reality series “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew”. The series, consisting of eight one-hour episodes, is slated to premiere October 2008 on VH1.
Dr. Drew,
I would like to know if you use Suboxone when you treat addicts who use pain meds. Also is it true that a person may need to take Suboxone for the rest of their life.
Dear jenbusiness1 ~
What is Suboxone? Why is it used on addicts with pain meds??
Thanks.
Hi! I have been going to a methadone clinic for 6 years, before that I was dependant on Oxycontin and percocets for at least 3 years. I can afford the $12.00 it takes to dose daily, but can not afford to go to a treatment facility. What do you suggest for people like me? Regards, Octavia.
After thinking about Dr. Drew’s decision to keep Steven in the house I went back and watched the first episode of Celebrity Rehab to see Steven’s intake video. I now see why Dr. Drew didn’t kick him to the curb. Steven was a mess: he was smoking crack and had become violent and suicidal- really desperate.
Dr. Drew has said that Steven is an 11-year-old developmentally; and when you listen to Steven talk to Dr. Drew, you can really see that. He is like a child – a lost child; and is therefore a very sympathetic character.
Please don’t kill yourself Steven! Let Dr. Drew help you!
can I help you at all, I’ve been clean and sober for 32years
This is not easy for me to publically expose but if will help anyone out there, so be it. I was a rape victum when I was 21. I was preparing to attend Parson’s School of Arts in NY. Not only did I get rapped but was stalked for a year of my life. This person used to call me and tell me what I had done for the day.
I became nocturnal and irradict in my thinking. I threw every bit of happiness and joy away. I wanted to die but never had the guts to put the gun to my mouth and pull the trigger. Instead, I found alcohal and drugs to drown. This went on for years, until I was 28.
One day I had enough of the insanity. I walked into an AA foundation and asked someone to help find my way out of this bottemless pit. I was sick of floating in the dark. It took 10 years to realize I had post-tramatic stress and then that was when the real healing and long road to recovery really kicked in.
Today, I am 52 and have found my niche in life. I encourage anyone to get help in sobriety and reconfiguring your thinking. The odds are against you; that is a reality. It takes great determination and faith in a higher power and oneself. You can do it! My nightmare is not a thing I would wish on my worst enemy. You have got to want it and are willing to work every day of your life. Humility and being humble is the beginning. After that the uncanny rewards from mankind and a spiritual source become too much of a coinsidence.
Hope be with you all! God Bless.
In the sober house first episode i noticed something Jen said that was interesting. She said ,” Addicts seem to love to break rules or at least try to change them to fit their needs.” As an addict myself I can identify with that. It seems like testing or breaking the rules and getting away with it is part of seeking out a high. I wouild think that the cameras being around would just add to that allure. I especially can recognize this point in Shifty’s swagger during the first episode. And i can’t seem to shake the idea that Seth orchestrated his binge during the filming of CR2. I would be curious to know the relationship between Seth’s surprise appearance at the hospital and the amount of Butterfly downloads on itunes. Sort of like the relationship between a gangster rapper getting arrested on a gun charge and a spike in record sales. Seth seemed like such a wild and crazy fun partier to some people. And what is the old saying There is no such thing as bad press. Don’t get me wrong I love the show, but wonder how much this really helping these people, especially since they are all past their “celebrity” prime and the only way to get on this particular reality show is to be an active addict.
i am really sad about Steven Adler, I was really rooting for him and his wife for his recovery. It is just so sad about his childhood and how it has affected his life.
I am most impressed with Amber and Rodney. Their honesty and just plain down to earth opinions of themselves is totally refreshing. I’m rooting for you guys and I know you will succeed.
Man these people are weak, i was a meth addict and was able to let go of the addiction. This is not a drug issue they are all just mentally weak. I hope that these stupid people with kids and families stop acting like it is impossible and deal with it. As for Jeff he is stupid! GROW UP IT IS NOT THAT HARD TO QUIT!!!!!!!
I want Rodney King to speak at my college in April. Could someone contact me?
I am a single mother, have 14 months sober, and have attended six month rehab for singe mothers. I was able to take my son with me, which was a blessing. I could not imagine the torture it must feel to be away from my child expecially during this process. However, you mothers and fathers that are in there should think of this as an oportunity to reboot yourself. In rehab, the biggest lesson that I learned was humility and graditude. I have seen mothers relapse in rehab, be court ordered to be there, and have their children taken by child care services and their probation, parole, and motherhood revoked. I have seen people overdose and die. I have seen peoples rock bottoms and have cried for them. I am gratefull to have my life I have been humbled more than anyone would ever know. The rehab I attended did not have a “sober living” transitional period. Once I completed the program I was thrown to the sharks, so to say. I am lucky in that I have a loving family who is helping me through this process. Fellow clients that were in the program with me were not that lucky.
Octavia,
I, too, was on methdone. The detox from it is excruciating – worse than heroin to be sure. I left cold turkey and went back to shooting dope – don’t do that. Tell the counselors at your clinic to decrease you dose by a milligram or so every few days to wean yourself slowly. Methadone is a big ball and chain. Slavery, really. The clinics are an industry and a vast money-making enterprise. They will keep you forever until you run out of money. I saw a few posts regading suboxone – it helps so much better than methadone. Perhaps you can check that out. It helped me. The big issue is that opiates are tough to kick for good. The pull is so strong, but before you realize it, you’ve crossed that invisible line into a full-blown dope habit. You can do it. Methadone is a dead end. Have them slowly decrease your dose and leave the clinic. Get clean, life is good.
Dr drew truly inspires me. I am a 32 yo single mom & addict who has been clean for over 2 years. The interesting thing about my situation is that I am a pharmacist. Meaning I am surrounded by drugs of choice for many 12 hours a day 6 days a week. My profession proved very difficult for me early in my sobriety but I have since learned to put my patients health & safety at the forefront. I took an oath and this is my primary responsibility. However I also have a responsibility to maintain my health & sobriety. If at any time my profession proves to be too much to handle or a danger to me or my son I will most definitely make a change. Dr Drew and his staff certainly are shedding light on a subject that before has been taboo. The public has gotten used to hearing of a Hollywood star checking into rehab or being arrested for possession but until Dr Drews CR and Sober House we never got to see what an intensive undertaking treatment is (for not only patients and health care professionals but also for the families of addicts). I applaud Dr Drew for his dedication to the disease of addiction. The American public can now see that addiction does not discriminate. Addicts can be rich or poor highly educated or a drop out old or young or a parent or child. There has always been a stigma attached to drug addicts but because of Dr Drew and these shows America can see that what they once thought may not hold true. If by chance Jennifer gimenez happens to read this comment please know it takes an awesome woman to step into the spotlight & reveal your truth of addiction & sobriety. What’s even more admirable to me is that you are willing to surround yourself with addicts who are not completely sure they can or want to committ to sobriety. I wouldn’t want your sobriety to be compromised in any way. I honestly look up to & am so proud of you for your accomplishment and the fact that you are giving back. If I had a chance to talk to anyone in Hollywood it would be Jennifer Gimenez. She is a strong beautiful woman with what seems a heart of gold & compassion for others. Thanks to Dr Drew and his staff for daring to do what no one else has-that is shedding light on the disease of addiction and communicating to others that it is treatable. I am living proof!
i’ve laughed, i’ve cried, i’ve prayed. thanks for sharing your lives with us. my best to all of you.
dr. drew is a JEDI Knight! God bless you and your staff.
-A
I have 10+ yrs being clean and sober. The road was a hard one for me and I didnt have the luxury of concentrating on just being sober and clean. I had to work to put food on my table for my kids and me and a roof over our heads and do it while kicking. The attitudes I see on this show by these “celebrities” really bother me as they seem so pampered (e.g. the first sober house looked like a vacation place to me and they all said it was a dump), that I am not surprised at the rate of relapse for them and the hard time they are having with the 1st step of this program of recovery. I never hear mention of a Higher Power as they all seem to think they are it. I dont see meetings coming into the places they are at, just therapy. I dont see them going to meetings, writing and sharing-just @^`#_%%%_`+%+`$)^ ing, moaning and acting out.
I am not sure how “real” this thing truly is and I feel it doesnt give a good depiction of the actual recovery process that the majority of addicts and alcoholics face daily.
I’ve been on pain medication since a failed back surgery a few years ago. Mostly Duragesic for all this time. I do not get any sort of “feeling” from it. Basically it is like nothing except the pain is less and I can do more, but I do not feel sleepy, euphoric, etc. Really just nothing. Yet I know that by now I am physically addicted to the medication. My doctors are great and although other intervention injections have not worked and they would like me to consider a morphine pump I feel safer knowing that I don’t get any feeling or any positive reward from the Duragesic. What will it be like for me to get off of these meds in the future. I have never been addicted to anything but it frightens me to think that at some point I am going to have to get very sick and possibly go through this kind of situation down the line.
Dearest Amber, I too was a model since the age of 16/ and until I truned 40.I also am an Drug addict and Alcoholic.Getting sobe and getting a square job was SCAREY…but people believed in me and today i am an AOD counselor and have graduated with honors..I am a CAS/CAAR?I work with kids 12-18 years of age please contact me at my e mail or 916-719-1223 Blake young
I completely agree with PAULIE…
I think this show is so far from reality, its not even funny. yet I find myself watching – shame on me. In real life – it should be zero tolerence….God Bless Jen, the house mgr. Why Dr Drew feels the need to coddle Steven Addler is beyond me. I understand people make mistakes and slip up…but by him making all the excuses in the world for him and chance after chance is putting the rest of the house in jeopardy. Must just be good for ratings….
I have been clean & sober for 7 1/2 yrs. To hear each of the housemates whine about the living conditions, chores, jobs….it makes me sick. Especially when they were still in treatment, touring sober houses…..Maybe celebs have such a hard time getting and staying sober b/c they get what they want, when they want it…but to the average joe, we know it’s what we’re supposed to get, when we’re supposed to get it….
I know I am part of the problem – if we don’t watch this crap, they won’t make it….
Just my 2 cents….
I am shocked and appalled at these Z list, so called “celebs” who have the opportunity to stay sober and at no cost at that and are abusing this as well…….Steven Adler is a pathetic site to behold as well as a few others but he is the worst of this disgusting bunch. I wonder why Dr. Drew who is a great guy would not allow people who really want the help to participate rather than these ungrateful +)#+~%~~**&`$~# es…….I know it’s a disease but there are people out there who really want this……..this is just a freak show.
I have never felt the need to write to any “reality” show before, but I am so drawn in by this show. I wish “Shifty” could make his ringtone to his phone his little boy’s voice saying “you are not going to do bad things”. I wonder if when he calls his dealer and his dealer calls him back if he hears that dear little voice maybe his choice would be not to use. Same with Steven–his wife saying, “I don’t want him to die”–their pleads with the addicts are so real and compelling.
I seriously think that rehab should of lasted perhaps maybe 3 months before moving anyone into to sober house, it would of gave them some backbone and able to deal better with the freedom they somewhat have. I want so much for all of them to succeed but the temptation is too great for them at this point.
Can sombody please tell me what the hell I am seeing??????? WHY was Stephen allowed to stay???????? for ratings and that’s wrong. Those people are sick and need help but if someone is repeatedly not staying clean then they need to go!!!!!! I am going to guarantee that Stephen gets to stay, even though Jennifer wants him gone, Drew will let him stay and jepordize the whole group…
I wish all the luck in the world to Rodney.. I believe he is the one and only person to make it to the end…. and survive i THINK he is strong and is going to make a difference, and the only one… so sad for the others I knew that Steven wasnt going to make it and that amber and nikkie weren’t going to make it either… So sad… And by the previews.. It made my deceision…
I called and contacted a rehab in Florida about rehab… For my drinking.. I have insurance and they called me back and said for $200.00 a day co-pay I could come to that re-hab… well you know what if I had $200.oo a day for re-hab I wouldn’t be in debt… So sad… If you have money you can get help… Doesn’t matter if you have health insurance… Sucks to have money and these people are so blessed to have money to do what ever they want to do.. And they choose to through their life into the trash because, they have money…
this needs to be shown on tv . more scenes like steven need to be shown. we need to know what drub abuse looks like. we need to know what to do when someone we love is in trouble.
wow you r so cool and make yourself sound that you are better than the addicts that are on the show… Your Quote “GROW UP IT IS NOT THAT HARD TO QUIT!!!!!!!” I bet all those addicts wish they could Quit just like you?”
they have been doing it for years and don’t know how… How are you so much better than them?
This show is irresponsible and Dr. Drew Knows it. He knows the first rule of any sober house is to kick out who ever is using and he made them keep steven for ratings. This show is using steven and putting everyone else in jeopardy! Dr. Drew is VH1′s pimp and he should be ashamed of himself. As someone in Recovery and someone who got sober because of a sober house i am offended by this show and by Dr. Drew!
Tim Myers
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