Controversy - Did Dr. Drew Cause Celebrity Deaths?

There was an article recently published (Dr. Drew: No More Celebrity Rehab After Cast Member Deaths; Lesley Savage, CBS News) saying that Dr. Drew Pinsky will no longer do “Celebrity Rehab.” He says he is through being blamed for the deaths of celebrities that have been on the show. Celebrities such as country singer Mindy McCready, riot victim Rodney King, television star Jeff Conaway, musician Mike Starr and reality star, Joey Kovar all died after being on the show. All died with drugs or alcohol in their systems. Critics say that Pinsky exploited these stars for monetary gain. He says he used their stardom to help others in the same situation.

• Questioning
• Defensiveness
• Blaming
• Secrets and Lies
• Isolation
• Changes in Social Groups
• Changes in finances - too much money or not enough money
• Odd phone calls or odd, unexplained trips outside the home

If we, as the public, say that these addicts died because they were exploited by Dr. Drew, we are in fact, enabling them and other addicts. (Okay – so we can’t enable these particular stars anymore, but others like them…) We are giving addicts another excuse to use and abuse alcohol and drugs. “I used more drugs because I was exploited – and ended up worse off than I was before!” We are allowing addicts to continue to use without becoming responsible for their own actions. “It’s not my fault! I am only using because I was exploited!” We are continuing to support them in making unwise decisions. “It’s okay if I continue to use – the public will give me an excuse and feel sorry for me!”

As the wife of a recovering addict, I had to learn the hard way that making excuses for an addict does the addict no good. It only makes things worse –not only for them, but for everyone that is around them. The problem only gets worse and when you make excuses for them, it tells them that they are doing the right thing. I know. I did this for three years. I made things worse. I can accept that fact. I wanted my husband to be happy – and he was happy when he was using. I let him use his excuses – and used them for him. “His back really hurts – he needs three times the prescribed amount of pain pills to take away the pain!” “He can’t come to the party – he’s “sick” (codeword for high or hung over or passed out.) I picked up drugs from his friends when his prescription was out so that he would not be in pain. I did all of this to “help” my husband. I thought I was doing what was right. But in reality, I was hurting him. I was making his drug habit worse than ever because I was making it okay. I was enabling his habit. And even with all that I did, I did not cause him to become an addict. I did not force him to take the drugs. I may have brought them to him – may have provided the excuses for him – but I could not force him to use the drugs. That was his choice and his choice alone. It took me many months to learn this. It took talking to therapists about because of the guilt I felt. But it’s just like I tell my students. No one can make you do anything.

If you or someone you know has an addiction problem get help as soon as you can. Here are some places to begin.

• Addiction Hotline - (888) 421-9023
• National Addiction Hotline - 1 - (866)-701-0102
• Free Addiction Hotline - (877) 259 5634
• Alcoholics Anonymous - www.aa.org

Even if Dr. Drew was providing drugs or alcohol for these stars who died too young - and he wasn’t – he would not be responsible for their deaths. He did not force these men and women to take these drugs or drink the alcohol that ended up taking their lives. He did not give them the drugs and alcohol that started their addiction – or that ended their addiction. He provided them with an opportunity to enter rehab on a reality television show to get help. They made the choice to come onto the show. It was their addiction to fame, as much as their drug of choice, that called them to the show. It wasn’t just Dr. Drew’s decision for them to do this. So why is he the one being blamed for their deaths?