New TV Show Follows Celebrities through 21 Days of Drug Rehab
Jan 17th, 2008 by admin
Last Thursday, VH1 debuted its latest reality television program, “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew”. The show follows nine celebrities, from martial arts fighter Ricco Rodruiguez to actor Daniel Baldwin, through a 21-day drug treatment program.
Like most reality programs, this show is likely to stress entertainment over authenticity in an effort to create “good television”. We applaud any effort to education the public on the serious issue of addiction recovery but we hope the program makes clear that this kind of program is only a first step.
The Importance of an Ongoing Recovery Mindset
Dr. Drew Pinsky, who oversees the clinic on the VH1 program, understands that recovery is a long process. In an article on MSNBC.com he is quoted as saying, “People have a misconception about treatment - you go through it like a car wash and then you’re out. It’s something that takes many months…The longer the treatment, the better the outcome. It takes a long time to get in this shape; it takes a long time to get well.”
A complete drug and alcohol recovery program must include relapse prevention education. Addicts will continue to be tempted. By expecting those crisis moments and knowing how to deal with them, the recovering addict has a much better chance of staying clean.
Mixed Gender Recovery Programs Have Mixed Success
Experts believe that recovery programs that are gender specific are more effective. Men and women are different. Addiction and recovery proceed differently for each group and trying to treat them the same lowers the chance of success.
At The Open Door, we specialize in the unique needs of women’s drug rehab. We provide a caring and supportive environment where women who have been through a 30-day program can take extra time to rest and heal so they can face the road to recovery with greater resolve.

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