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Are Alcohol Addiction Centers Getting a Bad Name?
Many believe that the celebrity rush to rehab is giving alcohol addiction center a bad name. This article by Simma Lieberman takes a look at “celebrity-rehab abuse”. Some believe that constant public exposure to celebrity drug addicts will take the spotlight of the average person who works hard for their sobriety. The TV perception of rehab doesn’t always show that there is more to treatment than just a 30 day stay.

Medical Supervision for Alcohol Detox
The argument that the rich and famous should have the responsibility to treat the drug and alcohol detox process with respect. Instead of acting out and creating drama for the camera, there are celebrities who seek treatment in private. Because of shows like Celebrity Rehab we are used to attention getting tactics such as dramatic stormouts and attention getting tactics to possible revive a dead career. Many believe that this unrealistic depiction devalues the real struggle of those trying to find addiction freedom.

Getting Well at an Addiction Center
Because of these televised depictions of celebrity addiction center, it’s important for others to get a real idea of what really happens. Although there is no one treatment method, a medically supervised detox is usually the first step. Just because the body is free of a certain substance does not mean that treatment is over yet. This can be a physically and psychologically draining process, which is why therapy and group sessions can help. Post treatment options also include continued services to help as the individual is slowly returning to their everyday routine without depending on a substance.

He’s Done It Again, Folks…

Smile Pretty, Charlie! (Is this the "Young Guns" look or what?)

After an alleged decade or so of sobriety, Charlie Sheen is officially back in the news for an alcohol-fueled incident that eventually culminated in a visit from –who else?– the police.  At 7:30 AM on Christmas morning, the “Two And A Half Men” star’s wife, Brooke Mueller, placed a frenzied call to 911 claiming that Sheen was drunk and threatening her with a knife.  The pair had been vacationing in Aspen with, ironically, their respective “sober companions” (a.k.a. paid, sober babysitters) in tow when they decided to go for an ill-fated Christmas Eve dinner at a local ski lodge.  Several witnesses report that Sheen, while not drinking heavily, sipped a cocktail while his wife proceeded to get annihilated.  What really happened after that is anyone’s guess, but we do know that, whatever went down, it resulted in Sheen’s arrest on both assault and domestic violence charges.

Sober Living, Charlie Sheen Style…

Now, us recovering alkies here at NITtools.com (and there are a few of us) know as well as the next 12-stepper that gossiping is hardly a feature of a spiritual life.  It’s ugly, destructive, and pointless, so we’re sorry that we’re doing it.  But, hell, it sure is a lot of fun!  On that note, let’s get serious: the fact is, Charlie Sheen is an alcoholic.  He claims to have been sober since 1990-something, but last time we checked, blowing a .04 (which he did following this most recent domestic dispute) means you’re halfway legally drunk.  Unfortunately, last time we checked, there is no such thing as being halfway sober.  Charlie has admitted he is an alcoholic, so presuming that is true, even the slightest ingestion of alcohol can trigger the phenomenon of craving characteristic of this insidious disease.  We can only hope that Sheen isn’t convincing other struggling alcoholics that “sober living, Charlie Sheen style” isn’t a viable option.  If you are addicted to drugs an alcohol, don’t be a Charlie – total abstinence is the way to go.

The Rumor Mill – Is Sheen Battling Vicodin Addiction?

It’s no secret – celebrities love their Vicodin.  Matthew Perry, Winona Ryder, Rush Limbaugh, Courtney Love and countless other, diverse celebs have copped to their own crippling additions to the prescription drug.  Heck, rapper Eminem even has a tasteful tattoo of a Vicodin pill on his shoulder.  The point is, we certainly wouldn’t be surprised if Charlie Sheen was, in fact, struggling with a Vicodin addiction.  He is obviously already in “relapse mode,” so why wouldn’t he indulge in a drug that, to most, seems fairly harmless?  We don’t have any solid proof, though, so for now we’ll lay off.  What we DO know is that Sheen was seen vanishing to the restaurant bathroom several times over the course of his meal with Mueller…and we also know that Charlie loves the cocaine.  Hmmm…

Charlie’s Best Option: Inpatient Alcohol Rehab

Let it be known: we are not in the business of condemning addicts and alcoholics who have succumbed to a relapse.  Some might even suggest that relapse is a part of recovery.  Frankly, we don’t agree, but if relapse is a part of your story, forgive yourself already – hell, we do!  Given that Sheen is clearly struggling with his cunning, baffling, and powerful alcoholic demons, we truly feel that his best option (for the sake of P.R. team and his mental health) would be to voluntarily check himself in to an inpatient alcohol rehab center.  Unfortunately, Sheen has a history of leaving treatment centers far before completing a full, 28-day stay.  Still, if ole’ Charlie could get it together and weather the full course of treatment, he’d probably have a fighting chance of re-rooting himself in recovery and, perhaps, beating this current case.