Celebrity rehab doctor Drew Pinsky recently suggested that actress Lindsay Lohan’s father plant drugs in her car and call the police as a way to get his daughter arrested and into drug treatment.
After he was widely criticized, he wrote a letter published on the Huffington Post seeking to clarify his position –without really changing his position, or apologizing for suggesting that the father of an adult woman should commit a felony so that his daughter will be falsely arrested and imprisoned. He repeated that if he were Lindsay’s father he would “go to any lengths to get her to and retain her in treatment.”
See the MSNBC News article or the Huffington Post letter for more details.
It’s too bad that Pinsky is so quick to violate his oath as a doctor to “first do no harm.”
It’s too bad that he is so cavalier about putting a young woman at serious risk through arrest and incarceration. He is also remarkably naive to think that he can rely on an “enlightened judge” to provide any particular sentence. Many people have learned the hard way that once a loved one is in the jaws of the criminal justice system, things get unpredictable, and collateral damage and unintended consequences can be severe.
And it’s too bad that Pinsky does not have the knowledge and skills necessary to engage and retain his patients in voluntary treatment, and instead must resort to crime and coercion.
Pinsky creates drama to justify his extreme views. But the reality is that “tough love” treatment providers like Pinsky (even those who aren’t trying to be famous) talk big but rarely actually “go to to any length” to engage and retain patients in treatment. More often they make people jump through hoops to get treatment, treat patients in a way that is unlikely to retain them in treatment, and then kick them out of treatment for minor rule violations.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Great, thoughtful post, Tom. Send it off to the Huffington Post. I’ve often considered trying to get my daughter arrested as a last resort to getting her to treatment – to perhaps, even save her life. You’ve pointed out very good reasons for not doing this. I haven’t been all that impressed by Dr. Drew, although, he’s very high profile, it seems.
Are you a resource for good, effective, long term treatment centers? Do you recommend that route vs an outpatient program? I don’t think my daughter could ever exercise enough discipline to stay with an initial out patient program. She mentioned to my ex-husband’s wife that she would want to go to some place in California that allows suboxone/methodone treatment. She said she needs to be far enough away from our city that she couldn’t make a phone call and easily get back in to the drug scene. As I reported in my last blog post, and in her own words, she’s “not ready”. Will she ever be?
Thanks again for all your support and wise words. Wish you practiced in my town. Peggy
I like Peggy’s comment. Submit your article! We all need a Tom in our town.
Can’t believe a “professional” would suggest that to a parent. Do something like that and the PARENT could end up in prison…
Thanks for sharing this Tom.
God bless.
A hammering critique…. I have seen this one in action a few times with my family member/addict – “… jump through hoops to get treatment, treat patients in a way that is unlikely to retain them in treatment, and then kick them out of treatment for minor rule violations”. – 2x in the past 60 days para mi hijo…tough love, I guess. Mucha frustración!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting Bill!
I’m sorry to hear your son has been “chewed up and spit out” a couple of times recently. It’s not ok. It is common…the norm…the status quo. But it is not ok. It hurts vulnerable people and wastes money, and as a society we can’t afford either.
My best to you and your son.
As a person who has had success in therapy/recovery, I can state that I have lots of concern re Drew Pinsky,M.D. As a “celeb dr” he comes across to me as self serving. I don’t think it is smart or ethical to opine/diagnose people he has never met/consulted with. Even “stars” have a right to the dignity of confidential treatment. It is no wonder these “stars” find it difficult to get help, if their doctors are as exploitative as Drew Pinksy. The fate of doctors who do this type of high profile, flamboyant work (dr’s who get involved in broadcasting/being celebrated themselves) is not very inspiring. Many of them wind up having all kinds of problems related to malpractice. I heard he is having problems continuing his show due to lack of people who want to participate. I don’t blame them! It’s tiime to close the book on broadcast medicine, except for very limited research or consultation.
I wish Lindsey Lohan luck, I hope she finds a good therapist/physician. I also pray she continues to have the good sense of staying away from the vampires who like to hang out at the parameters of show biz. If I were her, I would head east, find a physician well respected by both peers and patients. There are reputable doctors who treat famous people without exploiting them, and that is what these young celebs need. Doing laundry on TV does not enhance one’s self respect.