Monday 6 October 2008

Is Rehab losing its credibility?






“Li-Lo in Rehab crisis”, “Robbie books in as a birthday present to himself”, “Britney checks in for 3rd time this year.
These are but a few of the screaming headlines increasingly seen in publications over the past couple of years and gaining momentum at an alarming rate.

Not at all uncommon, the rehab celebrity alliance is as familiar to us as Posh’s pout.
Notably however over the past couple of years the stigma attached to the rich and famous entering these clinics has shifted dramatically.
The matter in previous years was virtually taboo in celebville. Shattering their images as perfect glossy celluloid stars, with perfect glossy lives was a considered a fate worse than death (although death nowadays is quickly being replaced by admitting any links to the church of scientology, ouch sorry Tom Cruise) .
The need to go it seemed was a (very) last resort and kept as hush, hush by their PR as possible with statements from ‘their people’ released to press such as “So and so is taking a few months of to relax and spend time with partner/friends and family” or “Mr Megastar had to pull out of filming due to unavoidable commitments”
Comments which are now reserved for female celebrities who come back from Switzerland looking remarkably ‘well rested’ and a touch different but why I can’t quite put my scalpel, oops I mean finger on.

But back to the topic at hand these stars are used having everything in excess, from money to lifestyle to partying it’s no wonder some abuse alcohol and drugs in the same excessive way. Either for enjoyment or to cope with the pressures of fame. And with money being no object it’s little wonder they find themselves with a little problem in the form of a full blown addiction on their hands sooner if not later. They’re in trouble and this is where rehab can be a saviour.

But what disturbs me is the seriousness surrounding the need to go to rehab is non-existent anymore and celebrities seem to attend with the same blasé attitude as if going to an after party.

One of Lindsay Lohans last stints saw her sneaking mates in, Britney kept checking in and out of hers as if it were the four seasons and former Busted star Matt Willis is reported to have said “he couldn’t wait to leave to go to the pub”
What was he admitted for? Yep you guessed it an alcohol problem.

It appears rehab is considered a rite of passage and you aren’t considered cool enough for their club if you haven’t done a stint at ‘The Priory dah-ling or some uber expensive retreat in the Arizona desert.

On the streets prison is the institution worthy of respect to the young, loaded and silly its rehab
The message being sent to young people seems to worryingly be booze as much as you like even take drugs till you’re off your face, but don’t fret because all you need to do is get your GP to make some sort of referral, for a nice little holiday in a fab house in the country, recharge your batteries for a bit then its back to the excesses. Think that’s a bit far out and no one thinks like that? Think again.

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