Dr. Drew Pinsky: Pray for 'Critical' Jeff Conaway

By Christine Fenno Posted May 22nd 2011 10:20AM

Jeff Conaway, 'Taxi' star and onetime 'Celebrity Rehab' patient on Dr. Drew Pinsky's reality series, has been visited in the hospital by his former sobriety coach.

As the troubled 60-year-old actor fights to survive, Pinsky denied that Conaway's substance abuse was behind reports of a coma.

On Friday, the doctor tweeted: "Just visited Jeff Conaway. He is stable & looks like he will recover from his pneumonia....Not an OD, like press is alleging & certainly not dead." He also criticized Conaway's manager for asserting that Conaway was comatose, when in fact, according to a Pinsky tweet: "He's in an induced coma...a Propafol drip."

However, in his most recent updates, Pinsky takes a more dire tone about the 60-year-old's condition, telling Twitter followers on Saturday the actor was "not doing well today suddenly."

He also said, "My hopes & prayers r with him & his family! yes, we all need to pray for him."

He explained, "Jeff Conaway still considered critical with sepsis. Many people die from septic shock....yes, he is VERY tenuous."

In 2008, a disheveled and unhealthy Conaway joined Pinsky's VH1 show, 'Celebrity Rehab,' to address his addiction to drugs and alcohol. Sadly, his sobriety attempt failed and last year, the actor was injured in a fall while under the influence of OxyContin and methadone.

Tags: dr. drew, drew pinsky, grease, Jeff Conaway, taxi

Comments

(33)

Sunday 22 May

By teeter54

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get well jeff!i am praying for you!!

By Michael

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Jeff Conaway is a mess! Bad actor and human being.

By stu

Dr Phil & Dr Drew got their degrees from Dr Doolittles University.

By Steve

I hope someone says the same thing about you when you're down and out.

By dakotaandqueen

Instead of kicking the poor man when he is already down trying being a decent person and pray for him and his family.

Monday 23 May

By tiredofhate

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You're an a**hole

By barbie

And you suck as a human being !

By Sue

Pitiful sight, to see someone waste a life to substance abuse.

By yemars14

Sue, It is also pitiful to see someone die of cancer or any other disease. You must understand that substance abuse is a disease. A medically proven disease. It is a horrible thing to witness. Nobody should not think any less of a chemically dependent than they would of a cancer patient. The odds of recovery are not very high on either. About 15% for chemically dependent to stay sober. I know this to be true, I lost my brother to dependency and I am fighting this battle myself. 15 months clean and sober after 30 years of dependency. It is a brutal disease. Instead of thinking less of someone, say a prayer for them. It will help to make YOUR life better.

Jeff R.

Sue yes it is a pitiful sight to watch and I did it for 11 years with my ex-husband. I tried so hard to hold on to our marriage, but I had to let go, because it was killing me to watch the only man that I ever loved slowly kill himself. so,I had to leave. You can't help someone who doesn't want help. And that's what it took for him to see what he was doing to himself, and to me, and to our love. He's been sober for 15 years now and he's doing well. And no we're not together but we're still there for each other and he knows that I still love him and always will.

By n

I just can't understand how some people have such
dark, nasty thoughts when they hear that someone has a substance problem. As a Mom myself , this is so depressing to see.
Where are you HEARTS ????
Is this how you would treat someone that you loved??
WELL, IS IT ????
I am sending Jeff my heartfelt best wishes that he can.... and , will get better.

By Virginia

Yes, some people are heartless and pathetic. They receive joy from other peoples pain. I guess they are just low lives that like to make themselves feel better by putting others down. They also find it easy to kick others when they are down.

By k

And I'm sure your wishes will make him better. You're as bad as Pinsky who, it seems, was no help whatsoever but didn't miss an opportunity for some publicity.

By kelly

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are you serious???????? substance not only affects that person, but their families as well....my husbands mother has destroyed their family with drugs and alcohol, he tried so many times to get her into rehab. She has sold anything that means anything to them.....so, I do not want to hear of the trials and tribulations of a junkie, I see the pain on the faces of my extended family every day.....she can help herself, but she does not want to.

By FRED

Substance abuse is more than what they tell us in this country,and it is a medical condition something that you cannot fight without alot of support.I have seen people rich and poor die from addictions and is not a nice sight,we need to treat people different then we do now.The cost of treatment is less than the cost of just letting people go on in this life.There are people out there that want help but cannot get it,a sorrowful thing, best of luck jeff hope you pull through

By Laura

My thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Conaway and his family and friends.

Shame on you Dr. Drew for disclosing detailed medical information of a patient on Twitter! Even if Mr. Conaway gave you permission to disclose medical information prior to his treatment,where are your ethics?

By RJ1

Dr. Drew must be concerned that this might be his last chance to exploit this poor man.

By dmtnl6ft

I was in ICU with sepsis...no joking matter. Mine was from surgery. Damn hospitals. I was lucky, but still suffer some permanent problems. All from in an out type surgery. They blow you up with fluids till you look like a Macys day balloon, and give you meds to elevate your BP. mine was 49/30 when I got to the hospital. I felt the "cold" of dying. Then the most horrible IV antibiotics you can imagine that make you feel sicker. If his heart and liver hold on he will make it. I feel bad for anyone who goes through sepsis. It is the worst.

My uncle had sepsis several years ago. Of course, we were all very worried, and it was critical to go see him, thinking we could lose him. Amazingly, the antibiotics and medical attention pulled him through. Jeff Conaway doesn't deserve all this cruelty no matter what is ailing him. The guy has had it very rough.

Hope he recovers and stays healthy!

By DoriAna

Jeff...we love you and are praying for you! You are such a good actor and tried so bad to kick the drugs that are holding you prisoner...keep fighting Jeff we need you in this world! Much love from Chicago!!!

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