Help Lindsay Lohan? Dr. Drew Says He'd Need a Year

By Nicki Gostin Posted Dec 7th 2010 10:01PM

As if Dr. Drew Pinsky isn't busy enough, next year the addiction specialist will add a HLN talk show to his busy schedule, which already includes 'Celebrity Rehab, 'Sober House' and, of course, his day job as a medical doctor in sunny Southern California. Alas, if only there was a term for being addicted to work! If there was, perhaps the doc-of-all trades could treat it. Pinsky dialed in with PopEater for a quick chat and discussed his plan for the new show, why he's "confused" when critics say he's exploiting star addicts and why he has little desire to treat "very difficult" Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen. Also, note to his teenage kids: Your dad will call the cops if you drink and drive. So, you know, don't.

Tell me about the talk show.
We're still in the stages of developing what the show is. I know what I want to do. My favorite thing to do is sit in Larry King or Joy Behar's seat and run those shows. It's a real challenge and it's fun and I'm interested in people and news of the day, and I'd like to have an opportunity to use my sensibilities and my knowledge base to sort of investigate these things. I can't tell you how often I watch TV and think: "Oh my God, they're going down a path that is just false." I know that because I'm a clinician. We're going to have interesting guests from all walks and hopefully some multi-media platforming. It'll start in March or April and I'm very, very happy about it.

What about the new season of 'Celebrity Rehab'?
Although they are ambivalent and resistant when they come in, they all end up really embracing the process and bonding almost too tightly with each other. About a week into it, they declare they're best friends. We were like, "Careful guys we know you're having intense experiences." Good news is most of them are still in treatment and doing very well.

What do you say to criticism that you take advantage of them?
I'm a little confused by that. On the one hand, these are people that are not particularly motivated to seek treatment, yet they desperately need it. They come to us because they're motivated to be on TV and make money and because of that skewed motivation we're able to keep them in treatment. The extraordinary thing we've discovered is that they don't leave treatment. They want to be on TV and make money and I can work very intensely with them. They don't leave. In usual treatment, when you get going intensely, they leave and say, "Screw this, I'm going to do drugs." These guys stay and they end up eventually getting with the program. I think you'll find almost every person who's done it feels it was a life-changing experience and wanting to be an inspiration to other people.

So if it's a mercenary or exploitative experience, you would think we would be taking something from them for ourselves. They're getting paid, often considerably more than I am, they're getting great treatment and a great outcome and they feel good about it. So how is that exploitative? Are we playing on their fame-seeking? Sure, but in terms of getting on the other side you'll see less of them on TMZ.

Who would be your dream celebs to have on the show?
I don't have one. It's just people who need treatment as far as I'm concerned.

Wouldn't you love to have Lindsay Lohan?
No, I wouldn't love it.

But she needs help.
Yeah, but she's a very difficult patient. The only way I would take her is if she would agree to stay in treatment for one year.

Why do you say she's a difficult patient?
Really? [Laughs]

What about Charlie Sheen?
Again, he needs a year. I do think my team could really help them in a special way, TV or not TV, but they need longer term.

You have three teenagers. Do you have a zero-tolerance policy?
I absolutely do. If I found pot in one of their rooms, I would get help immediately. I would get a professional team assembled because if it's bad enough that I'm finding it then it's bad.

Surely they've gotten drunk once.
Surely, but if I find out about it ... Listen, here is what I presented to them. You're going to do what you're going to do. You know what I do for a living. I've taken them to treatment programs, they've seen the consequences of use and all day long I tell parents what to do and they don't and horrible things happen as a result. So as a result of my experience -- mea culpa, maybe I'm hardcore -- I'm sorry for you guys that I'm your dad, but my experience has taught me that this is how it's going to go. If you drink and do drugs, I'm going to make sure the consequences are brought down upon you. If you go drinking and driving I'm going to make sure the cops are going to get you and I'm not going to bail you out of jail. I'm sorry, it's going to kill me but that's how it's going to go.

Tags: celebrity rehab, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Lindsay Lohan

Comments

(76)

Wednesday 08 December

By Monica

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Dr. Drew - don't listen to the crap on here. You are wonderful and you perform a wonderful service. It doesn't matter whether they are celebrities or not, or getting paid or not. The point is that they need help and they get it. I admire Dr. Drew.

By Chris

I'm in recovery myself. I credit my Higher Power for keeping me clean and sober. I can't get people loaded and I can't keep them clean, but I can help show them how I found my Higher Power.

By karenG

I have learned so much about myself and others from Celebrity Rehab and Sober House, and I give kudos to Dr. Drew who I used to listen to when I drove home from night school, on a radio show dealing with many issues we face as human beings. I give kudos to the celebrities who allow us to view their struggle and learn from it. I have gained nothing but respect for everyone involved with this program, and I thank you all for doing this. We need to learn from one another - and you can't do that when you don't really understand what someone else is going through. Keep up the beautiful awesome great work. Karen G

By Debra P

I so wish there were more
Dr Drews. He is so right on. People are more addicted now than ever. And with prescription drug addiction on the rise, there needs to be ever more help. People do not seem to have the coping mechanisms anymore. If it hurts a little take a pill. People have turned into WIMPS!!!!!

By Lynnz

He used to be the Love Doctor on KROQ in CA...He was a tool then he is a tool now

By mw

At first I thought his shows were explotative. After reading the article, I get it. If this will save their lives, then so be it.

By Mark Clements

Dr. Drew is a lot easer on them than I would be. They have been pampered and catered to there whole life. They should go to the rehab I went to. No beach no big screen tv nothing but reality out of 50 people 2 of us had jobs to go back to. It was a real wake up call for me. 12 years later I'm still clean and sober the 12 steps work if you really want to stop living a lie.

By Joyce

I think Dr. Drew is taking it a bit on the chin so he can show the public what drug abuse is all about. I like the show but always keep in mind that the patients are getting paid and it is a reality show. Nonetheless, I think Dr. Drew is fantastic and truly helps the celebrities. I like to see his critics try to do the same!

By Jack

Whatever happened to confidentiality?

By john

Docs are not supermen, they only think they are or at least put on the guise that they are. Here is a fact of life: no one can serve two masters. Within that statement lies the ability to do your best at more than one profession.

If this guy is a physician and an "expert" in rehab, he is already skirting his efforts. If he is now going to add a third occupation, I certainly wouldn't want him to treat me either medically or for an addiction unless he has a staff where the real professionalism and genius resides.

Hey doc, don't piss on my shoes and try to tell me it's raining. Congrats blog writer, how does the bait taste?

By ItBeatsTheJerseyShore

It is just my thoughts on the show. I think anything on MTV or VH1 that dares to get honest about addiction to a crowd of viewers of all age's is GREAT! To me it is a whole lot better to watch then everyone getting drunk like "The Real World"
Where the people kids, young adults all think getting drunk till you have back-outs or sleeping around with everyone. So I think it is a great show on the right station that shows the flip-side of fame. If you wanted to reach a bunch of teenagers to warn them that the party stops and you stuck with a bigger problem now and that would be Addiction. That's the place for it. As far as Dr.Drew goes and saying he is exploiting people is bull they sign up for it they have a choice not to. For some of these addicts this may be the last house on the block for them, hell it could be helping their career when we see someone struggling to do better for themselves it makes you want to route for them.

By E. Martinez

TESTING........

By Marjorie Taylor

There is no help for Lindsay. No matter how much anyone tries to help her she goes back to the way she was. If she's stupid enough to keep doing the same crap over and over again the only way she will be able to stop is when the good Lord takes her. She will continue on her downhill trip until the day she actually dies. Sad but true.

By Sonja

So called doctors are getting rich off of drug addicts. FORGET REHAB, SEND THEM TO MEXICO TO PERMANENTLY LIVE. OUR COUNTRY WOULD BE BETTER OFF. DO THE SAME WITH THE ILLEGALS, OUR GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STOP SPENDING TAXPAYERS DOLLARS ON THEM, DEPORT ALL OF THEM, THEN LET NO ONE BACK IN.

By K

This is a TV show....most of them are acting . Yes, some have problems, but they add to it for the show or no one would watch. They are desperate for attention thats why they are on there, and most are washed up anyway.

By Gary

She's not his patient. His public speculation about her is plainly unethical. But then, these TV doctors don't really see people as fellow human beings. She's just a ratings hook. Dr. Ho is what he ought to call himself, but I think Dr. Phil got that first.

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