For most of us, an admission of regularly drinking on the job would be cause for dismissal, but for longtime game show host Pat Sajak, it was just a colorful anecdote.

Sajak, who’s been at the helm of Wheel since 1981, recently admitted in an interview to hosting the show drunk in the past – and on more than one occasion. When talking on ESPN 2’s Dan Le Batard is Highly Questionable, he told stories of how he spent his long dinner breaks back in the show’s early days. Sajak admitted he and letter turner Vanna White would kill time by tossing back margaritas.

“We had a different show then,” Sajak explains. “You didn’t win money, you won fake money with which you could buy cheesy prizes.” Sajak went on to call the prize-awarding segment “the most boring two minutes in television,” blaming it for his questionable work practices.

“Our dinner breaks would be two-and-a-half hours long while they drove in new cars and boats and gazebos and stuff,” Sajak explains. So he and White passed the time at a Burbank spot called Los Arcos where he admits he’d have “two or three or six” margaritas, suggesting the “average number was cuatro” (Spanish for “four”).

The host continued to make light of his drinking on the job, joking that video of some of those early shows where he was tipsy can be fun to watch. “They’re really good tapes to get ahold of,” he says.

While we all make mistakes, it’s a bit uncomfortable to hear Sajak turning his past proclivity for drinking on the job into a joke, especially while alcoholism, underage drinking and binge drinking are all consistent or growing problems in the US. While he hasn’t set himself up as a role model, many addiction experts question whether or not the 65-year-old should have known better than to make light of such a serious subject.

Alcohol Abuse Help at La Paloma

If you or someone you love needs help with alcohol addiction, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

Demi Moore had to be hospitalized recently after a concerned friend called 911, telling the operator that the 49-year-old actress was having convulsions and “burning up” at her Los Angeles home. The health issues were attributed to Moore smoking an unknown substance that could have been similar to bath salts, according to the recently released recording of the 911 call.

A rescue crew arrived 10 minutes after the call went out and Moore was rushed to a local hospital. She is now seeking “professional assistance to treat her exhaustion and improve her overall health,” according to her rep, Carrie Gordon.

That response seemed to frustrate addiction expert and TV host Dr. Drew Pinsky.

“That’s spin — nothing more than spin,” he said on his HLN show. “I have a stronger word for that, but not able to say it on television. I’m sick and tired of reps shooting things out that don’t make sense. Exhaustion isn’t a diagnosis that requires hospitalization.”

Downplaying addiction issues doesn’t help anyone, but why was Dr. Drew so bothered? Do public figures owe us the details of their addiction issues? Is their treatment negatively affected by downplaying the problems in the press? We know honesty is important to the healing process, but are getting clean and coming clean related?

It’s a topic that’s certainly open to discussion and debate. For now, Dr. Drew is trying to stay focused, saying, “Treatment works, and I hope she engages in that treatment.”

Drug Abuse Help at La Paloma

If you or someone you love needs help with drug abuse, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

Actress Heather Locklear has been in the news lately, but it’s not welcome publicity. The former Melrose Place star landed in a Los Angeles-area hospital after her sister called 911 on January 12. The brief hospitalization was attributed to mixing prescription drugs and alcohol, according to People magazine.

Her parents quickly issued a statement through the hospital that Locklear was in no immediate danger and was healthy, while other sources suggested she was being urged by loved ones to seek treatment. Locklear, 50, has had issues with alcohol in the past, undergoing treatment in 2008 for what her reps classified as “anxiety and depression.” Just months later, she was arrested for DUI in Southern California. Now, many worry that she’s relapsed. People.com recently ran a story that cited sources who claimed the troubled actress was “out of control” in the weeks leading up to the incident.

While Locklear’s rep hasn’t commented on the actress’ condition, others suggest the end of her engagement to longtime beau Jack Wagner in November may have been a trigger. Wagner, who has been successfully in recovery, issued a cryptic message after the relationship ended, saying, “We took the pressure off and said, ‘Let’s just love each other the way we are.’” More recently, reports surfaced of a physical altercation between the exes in late December that drew the police. No charges were filed, but the incident is being reviewed by the authorities before it is determined if it will be pursued any further.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Help at La Paloma

If you or someone you love needs help with drug or alcohol addiction issues, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about addiction treatment, financing or insurance.

Has VH1 pulled the plug on the popular show Celebrity Rehab? The network has no current plans for 2012 versions of Celebrity Rehab, or its spin-off Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House, but the official word from the network is that programs are not cancelled and future editions are off the schedule due to scheduling issues, EW.com reported.

While the Dr. Drew-hosted show has been popular, drawing a lot of publicity for the network, the idea of taking the very private process of substance abuse treatment public and showing it on the small screen has been questioned. Proponents argue that the celebrities who appear on the show ARE getting professional help — despite the cameras.

Tragedy struck last year, though, when two previous participants died. Jeff Conaway, who appeared on season two of Celebrity Rehab, passed away from complications from taking prescription medications. Season three participant and former Sober House resident Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr died after mixing Xanax and alcohol.

The network aired five seasons of Celebrity Rehab, including two editions in 2010, EW.com reported. The show, set at Southern California’s Pasadena Recovery Center, was considered a success for the network, averaging about 1 million viewers per episode, higher than the network’s 600,000 primetime average.

The shows could still return, but they remain off the schedule for now and Dr. Drew is currently focusing on his daytime CW talk show, Lifechangers.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment at La Paloma

If you or someone you love needs help with alcohol or drug addiction issues, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

A princess may seem like an unlikely proponent for drug treatment, but Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, has included an organization that helps those struggling with addiction in the short list of charities she plans to champion in the service of her country.

In a first step toward carving out a public role for herself separate from her husband, Prince William, the newly minted royal announced Thursday the UK charities she has chosen to support as patron. The list includes the Art Room, a group that provides art therapy to children, the National Portrait Gallery, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, the Scout Association, and Action on Addiction, which runs a network of addiction treatment centers across England.

The latter is a potentially controversial choice, but the hope is that her patronage can help remove the stigma from addiction in the way Princess Diana’s support for people diagnosed with HIV and AIDS changed public opinion about that disease.

“It’s not an easy subject for some people — but I think this sort of patronage will change that,” said Nick Barton, chief executive of Action on Addiction.

The charity helps those with addiction issues as well as providing support for families of addicts, training for professionals, and backing for research.

Addiction Help at La Paloma

If you or someone you love needs help with alcohol or drug addiction, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about addiction treatment, financing or insurance.

When will people learn that drugs, alcohol and marriage just don’t mix? Commitment is hard enough without adding substance use or addiction to the equation. Don’t take it from the treatment professionals, though. There are plenty of celebrity examples ready and willing to serve as cautionary tales, with new ones cropping up every day.

Irish singer Sinead O’Connor just announced that she is walking away from her 16-day marriage to fourth husband Barry Herridge. The couple tied the knot Dec. 8 in a drive-through Vegas ceremony, but it wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment thing. Still, the planned union turned sour that first night, according to O’Conner’s account in Britain’s Sun newspaper.

In the interview, O’Connor admits she went on a frantic hunt for cannabis on their wedding night. “We ended up in a cab in some place that was quite dangerous,” O’Connor is quoted as telling the Sun. “I wasn’t scared — but he’s a drugs counselor. What was I thinking?” The night only got worse from there. “Then I was handed a load of crack,” O’Connor continues. “Barry was very frightened — that kind of messed everything up a bit, really.”

Still, it was O’Connor who ended the marriage, saying she did so out of “respect and love for the man.”

Meanwhile, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Brandi Glanville rang in the New Year in Las Vegas by tying the knot with her good friend Darin Harvey, a mixed martial arts manager. It’s a union she confirmed with multiple Twitter posts that seemed alcohol-fueled, to say the least.

“I’m married again – suuuuuuck it!” Glanville tweeted, adding, “It wasn’t planned and we will handle it, but good times!” She also posted pics of the nuptials on the social media site. The newlyweds then headed to a strip club to celebrate.

By Monday, the alcohol had worn off and the groom tweeted it was just a “drunken BFF thing.” Glanville went further, denying the marriage was even legal and tweeting, “We were just having fun!”

Glanville was previously married to actor Eddie Cibrian, with whom she has two children. The couple divorced in late 2010 and Cibrian wed LeAnn Rimes in 2011.

While adults are free to marry and divorce whomever they please, incidents like these (along with the quickie Vegas marriages of Britney Spears and Jason Allen Alexander, Dennis Rodman and Carmen Electra, Nicky Hilton and Todd Meister) help make the case that heavy partying and lifelong commitment don’t mix well. Drugs and alcohol aren’t just dangerous, they also impair the ability to make good decisions. You don’t need to have a substance abuse problem or be battling an alcohol addiction to be negatively affected, either.

Substance Abuse Help at La Paloma

If you or someone you love needs help with alcohol addiction or substance abuse issues, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

Any death is sad, and death as a result of a disease — especially one that could have been treated — is especially tragic. As 2011 comes to an end, it’s time to look back at the famous faces we lost this year to the tenacious disease of addiction. Some deaths were directly traced back to current substance use, while others were the result of poor health related to past substance abuse.

While 27-year-old singer Amy Winehouse had accomplished so much in her young life, her talent was often overshadowed by her alcoholism and drug use. The performer was reportedly working to overcome her addiction when she was found dead July 23 in her London apartment. The cause of death was determined to be alcohol poisoning.

Former Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr had a very public battle with drug addiction, chronicled in part on the third season of VH1′s Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. He was found dead March 8, at age 44.

Another bassist, Mikey Welsh, who had played with the rock band Weezer before retiring to pursue an art career, died in Chicago on Oct. 8. He was found dead in his hotel room from a suspected drug overdose that led to a heart attack. Two weeks earlier, Welsh predicted his death in a Twitter post, saying, “dreamt i died in chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). need to write my will today.” followed by “correction – the weekend after next.” Welsh played on Weezer’s 2001 Green Album, featuring the hit song “Hash Pipe.”

Jeff Conaway was best known for his roles in the movie Grease and the TV series Taxi. In later years, he also became known for his longtime battle with addiction. Conaway died May 27 after two weeks in a medically induced coma. The official cause of death for the 60-year-old was pneumonia, but his problem with pain meds surely played a role.

Jackass fans were stunned to hear of the death of 34-year-old Ryan Dunn, known for his dangerous stunts and tricks. He was killed June 20 in a fiery car crash that police later said resulted from alcohol and driving at high speeds. Dunn tweeted pictures earlier in the evening that appeared to show him drinking at a Pennsylvania bar.

Addiction Help at La Paloma

If you or someone you love needs help with alcohol addiction or substance abuse issues, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

Longtime fans of MTV’s The Real World may remember watching in shock as cast member Ruthie’s alcohol problem surged out of control during 1999’s Hawaii-based season. Over on Survivor, Jessica “Sugar” Kiper was reportedly suicidal following the show and engaged in several addictions, landing her on the fifth season of Celebrity Rehab. Reality TV’s meteoric rise in popularity has come with an interesting side effect: A firsthand view of addiction. Many of these programs have inadvertently showcased meltdowns by reality stars that continue to publically spiral downward or enter treatment.

The latest reality TV personality to hit bottom while the cameras rolled is Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kim Richards. A former child star and aunt of celebutante Paris Hilton, Richards entered treatment last week for what People magazine called “alcohol abuse and other problems.”

As with many who struggle with addiction, it isn’t her first time seeking professional help. Last season, her substance abuse issues were the subject of a major blow-up between Kim and her sister Kyle, who also appears on the show. This season, her erratic behavior has continued. In one episode, Richards seemed to be slurring her words, causing co-stars to question her sobriety. The official explanation was that she was taking anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications, along with an anti-seizure medication, which can be used to treat alcoholism.

According to the People article, Kim’s family is relieved she’s getting help and fans of the show are wishing her well. It also raises the question of whether these reality shows expose people’s weaknesses and pain. Obviously, reality star wannabes don’t sign up to appear on TV, thinking their biggest problems will be made public. On the positive side, the pressure cooker that is reality TV may bring simmering issues to the surface faster than they would if the cameras weren’t there. If this results in individuals getting help, that’s a good thing.

Alcohol Addiction

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As we read continuous stories of troubled celebrity offspring, it can be tempting to write off these troubled individuals as beyond help. Redmond O’Neal’s troubles seem endless and the son of Michael Douglas, Cameron Douglas, faces new drug charges – even though he’s already behind bars.

The younger Douglas is serving a five- year federal prison sentence for drug dealing and has now pleaded guilty to possessing drugs in his jail cell. These latest charges could mean a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, plus a $250,000 fine.

The 32-year-old is charged with possessing items that tested positive for cocaine and heroin, which were found in his cell by an investigator. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Anderson told the court one of the substances tested positive for methadone, which he described as “something that people take when they’re coming off a heroin addiction in order to facilitate the withdrawal,” according to a court transcript.

According to the charges, Douglas obtained the narcotics at not one but two different facilities — the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan and a minimum-security jail in Lewisburg, Penn.

While in court to face these most recent charges, Douglas admitted struggling with addictions to heroin, cocaine and alcohol, telling the judge “God knows I am sorry.” He is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 21.

In response to this most recent arrest, Michael Douglas issued a statement that said “Cameron accepts full responsibility for his conduct, which involved a small user-quantity of drugs. While he has made much progress, he is still not cured. Most people and their families are able to address this illness privately and outside of the spotlight. Unfortunately this has not been possible here, for reasons completely outside of his control. He thanks those that have rooted for his recovery and looks forward to the day when he will not disappoint.”

While it may be tempting to write off those who have received treatment, wakeup calls and even jail time and still continue to use, it just shows how insidious the disease of addiction really is. For many, negative consequences or positive reinforcement aren’t enough to beat it. Others undergo several rounds of treatment before arriving successfully in recovery. There’s no quick formula for success when it comes to overcoming drug addiction. For most, it’s a long road filled with stumbles and obstacles. All those of us on the outside can do is continue to educate ourselves and provide support while leaving treatment to the pros.

Drug Addiction Treatment

If you or someone you love is in need of help with drug addiction or treatment for other substance abuse issues, call La Paloma at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

No, we’re not just using the troubled celeb as a cautionary tale. We believe that Lindsay Lohan’s life – beyond just her tabloid-worthy bad behavior – have something to teach us about the origins of addiction. By focusing on her medical conditions and symptoms we can gain insight into the bigger problem of substance abuse. As Lohan prepares for her Playboy spread, it’s easy to get caught up in debating her current decisions, but let’s look at the medical issues she has to overcome instead.

What we’re after is the type of information an intake counselor gathers when someone is entering a treatment program in order to put together a medical history that doctors and treatment specialists use to formulate a treatment plan. In doing an intake exam, Lohan should certainly mention ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. While she doesn’t actually suffer from this condition, she did receive a diagnosis at one time, and that diagnosis probably came with a hefty supply of Adderall. Use and abuse of this drug in those who don’t need it can have severe negative effects, including (ironically) hyperactivity and manic behavior. Could ADHD drugs be to blame for some of Lohan’s more outlandish behavior? Could a dependence on these drugs have led her to move on to “bigger and better” drugs? They are questions that treatment staff would certainly want to explore.

During her many legal and personal issues, Lohan has admitted to abusing alcohol and drugs, mainly cocaine. Cocaine provides a burst of energy that is favored by those looking to party into the night, and this would have made it an obvious next step for Lohan. The alcohol then acts as a depressant, allowing the user to come down from the cocaine high. Alcohol abuse can also lead to DUI arrests, which Lohan has experienced on more than one occasion.

So we know what she’s been using, but why did Lohan start using in the first place? A very high percentage of people batting addiction have accompanying mental health issues. Often, they start using in an attempt to self-medicate or feel “normal,” even if they haven’t been professionally diagnosed or are aware they have a real problem. Lohan was actually professionally diagnosed – with bipolar disorder – but it turned out to be inaccurate. That doesn’t mean there aren’t other mental issues plaguing Linsday. PTSD, depression, anxiety and a host of other issues could contribute to her decision to turn to drugs. The stress of life in Hollywood would only exacerbate those issues.

It’s that very stress that likely caused Lohan to develop an eating disorder, like countless young celebs and celeb wannabes before her. Bulimia, which consists of bingeing and then purging (or throwing up), leads to malnutrition and causes damage to your teeth and mouth. It’s an extreme disorder than begins with the desire to be thin or attractive, but usually relates more to a desire for control (pros will tell you eating disorders are rarely ever really about food). Lohan has received treatment for her bulimia, and seems to be on top of it, but sometimes dealing with one addiction can lead to the development of another if the underlying emotional issues aren’t fully addressed. That’s why it’s common for food addicts to begin abusing alcohol or turning to shopping or sex as a new outlet. It’s a danger than anyone in recovery knows they need to be aware of.

Drug Rehab

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