Over the course of six seasons and four years, addiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky and his team worked to help celebrities overcome their addictions to drugs and alcohol on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. Working out of Pasadena Recovery Center, one of the celebrity rehab facilities in California, Pinsky aided multiple celebrities and famous people overcome a variety of addictions, from drugs and alcohol to sex and food. Pinsky began this quest after being disturbed by the amount of tabloids focused on celebrities and their addictions. He was troubled by the fact that many of the pieces painted addiction as a failure in judgment or morals, rather than an actual condition. To change this perspective, Pinsky, who was at this time already a successful media personality, pitched his reality show idea to VH1, who accepted based on the success of shows like Intervention. Casting initially proved difficult, but eventually many well known personalities were featured on the show, such as Gary Busey, Rodney King, and Dennis Rodman. While conflict naturally arose, the show maintained strict guidelines for the patients, and aside from constant monitoring, the facility functioned like a normal rehab. Patients had treatment, therapy, projects, and activities. Many of the treatments were very successful, which led to two spinoff shows: Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew and Sober House. Both were moderately successful, and detailed different types of struggles addicts may face. Sober house featured many celebrities featured on earlier seasons of Celebrity Rehab, and featured their lives after treatment. While the show garnered much acclaim in its run due to its more refined and serious take on addiction and recovery, it accrued an equal amount of criticism. Many felt, just like similar shows such as Intervention, that the confrontational and dramatic nature of the show might push some away from recovery or help. Many also felt that the show may be dramatized for publicity and ratings, which directly and disturbingly contradicts the needs of the patient. Many questioned whether situations in the show were doctored in order to increase dramatics rather than actually help patients, which constitutes borderline criminal negligence on the part of those producing the show. Just like Intervention before it, many claimed Celebrity Rehab exploited individuals at their respective rock bottoms in order to profit. Pinsky has disputed and dismissed these claims repeatedly, despite the show ending years ago. The show ended due to Pinsky lacking a desire to continue. Many blamed him and his show when those who attended later died due to drug overdose. Pinsky claims he holds no responsibility, but is tired of being harassed by those who claim he is guilty in some regard. While it may have garnered controversy in its time, Celebrity Rehab introduced and de-stigmatized rehab, addiction, and recovery to a younger generation, and showed many how important it is to get help.
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