Having watched Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, it's sobering to realize

[closeupready]

that at least four of his celebs who rehabbed successfully have since died - Rodney King, Jeff Conaway, Mike Starr and now Joey Kovar.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-joey-kovar-dead-real-world-20120817,0,3631961.story

Very sad.

[Denninmi]

1. Apparently it wasn't all that successful then?

Did they all die of substance abuse? I don't really follow these people, I know Jeff Conway threw his life away after Taxi. I only vaguely recall Mike Starr as a character actor on shows like 'Ed' if it's the guy I'm thinking of. Rodney King just died recently I think.

Never heard of the last one.

[closeupready]

2. Starr was a musician with Alice In Chains, and Kovar was

featured on MTV's Real World reality show, and Season 6 of Drew's show (IIRC).

I don't think the correct conclusion is that Drew's rehab isn't successful; rather, addicts relapse at a very high rate - statistics bear that out, that no matter how successful a particular program is purported to be, an addict will have to fight against relapse for the rest of their lives.

[Swede]

6. One day at a time,as they say.

nt

[rug]

3. The better chance of recovery is in anonymity not celebrity.

[Iggo]

9. I agree with you there.

Further, their making an entertainment show out of people's rehab is sickening to me.

[rug]

11. It's tough enough without a TV crew recording every twinge.

I can't imagine going through that.

[FloridaJudy]

4. A lot of addicts/alcoholics wrecked their health

Before getting sober. It's not unusual to see people who've been clean and sober for decades die of Hepatitis C, for example. I just lost a friend that way.

And yes, addicts relapse, even with the best care and intentions in the world.

It's a bitch of a disease.

[Major Nikon]

10. One study I read reported that 29% of people who check into AA are dead within 10 years

And these are people who are seeking treatment, so I can only imagine the worst addicts who don't seek treatment have an even higher mortality rate.

[Myrina]

5. Not to mention

.. The ones we see "relapsing" in the news like Brigitte Nielsen and Seth Binzer, and that country singer who straight flipped the hell out & kidnapped her own kid last spring ...

[LynneSin]

7. As much as I hate these shows I do watch them from time to time

Although I would confess that I prefer Invention over the Celebrity rehab.

I'm from a family of addicts (although no one in my immediate family) so for me it's just reminding myself to enjoy life but don't enjoy some things too much. Everytime they show the ending of "Intervention" I always cross my fingers in hopes the person feature has made it sober. Some of those stories are heartwrenching.

[Major Nikon]

8. I've lost all respect for Dr. Drew

I used to like to listen to him on the radio and I can certainly understand those who are still fans, but when he started chasing the ambulances of celebrities unsolicited just to keep himself relevant it was a bit too much for me to take.

As far as those 4 celebs go, it's kinda hard to say they were rehabbed successfully when 2 definitely died of drug related causes and the other 2 are highly probable. In the process Dr. Drew turned their treatment into a side show for the sake of entertaining the masses with their misery. It's very sad all the way around.

[Honeycombe8]

12. Celebs? I've never heard of them. nt