I have never liked Patti Reagan, the rebellious daughter of President Ronald Reagan, often thinking her popularity was gained because of her black sheep status in the first family rather than any marketable talent. However this article she has written for Newsweek about celebrities who use rehab as a pit stop instead of a life change has forced me to re-evaluate my opinion.
“It makes me angry when I see how the opportunity of being in rehab can be abused as nothing more than a slick PR move. A brief retreat from the paparazzi. How lucky these celebrities are to be able to go to one of these facilities (which are not cheap) and to benefit from the wisdom and help that waits behind the gates.
I struggled for years to learn on my own what someone like Lohan could learn in months, if she were willing to do so. Of course, that learning also has to be followed by practice. Every day. Forever. But it can start in rehab.”
My hat’s off to you Patti. Well written and spot-on a topic I had struggled with to express my thoughts coherently, so I appreciate you doing it for me.
This is definitely recommended reading and thanks to Screedler for bringing it to my attention.
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Lohan and Spears both used rehab several times just as a brief stop to rejuvenate before heading immediately back out to the club scene.
I don't think any rehab that is charging 50K a month and allowing their patients to go out for lunch and exercise around town is a rehab at all it is a salon and place for addicted stars to hide out hoping the media will forget. 30 days is usually the time it takes for you to get your head straight and then you need at least 30 more or better to learn to live in reality and of course the 90 in 90 to get the insight that is necessary for a beginning to recovery. These actresses have no reality to look to because everyone around them is feeding their ego every day and this Alcoholic and Addict knows that I need to be relieved from my ego to stay in recovery.
and probably harder when you have groupies treating you like a goddess. Having a spa like environment where every whim is catered to IMHO would also make it difficult to accept the seriousness of the situation. I agree- the longer the stay the better your chances at recovery.
These "rehabs" that these hollywood elites go to are hardly a rehab they are more a salon and a hiding place hoping the media will be forgettful. 30 days in sobriety is about the time your mind and body become clear enough for the message of life and reality and I really believe an additional 30-60 days for the message is necessary and not in a 50K a month luxury hotel "rehab". These people in hollywood are consistantly being told how great they are and their ego's are fed and fed and this alcoholic knows that my ego was the first thing that had to go if I was to live in recovery. I of course wish them the best however I am always mindful of the saying "some will die so that others may live".
Freedom of Religion not Freedom from Religion
I feel as if they have earned the scorn and ridicule. But then I think of my drinking and craziness and the "what if" there was 240-hour news coverage of my antics- embarassment quickly follows.
I wish them the best and hope they do not have to sink to the same depths of despair and pain that I did before they find their recovery.
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