Chris BeazerWhat’s so cool about rehab?
March 29th 2007 00:53
Ben Cousins has a drug problem, so does Pete Doherty. The AFL has a drug problem so does Tinseltown. Though intricately linked that doesn’t mean that every player or celebrity who has ever taken an illicit drug ever is in desperate need of rehab as the moralisers would have you believe.
Players and others in similar positions society are role models in society whether they like it or not, that is beyond question. These people certainly do need to live up to certain standards for the thousands of wide eyed ten year olds who worship them.
Unfortunately at the moment with figures like Kate Moss and Britney Spears their drug battles are becoming part of their still supposedly ‘cool’ personas. A trip to rehab for Lindsay Lohan seems to the gossip mags to be as desirable as a small badly bred dog in a designer handbag. A week at a health retreat is a luxury not a necessity of rehabilitation for serious drug addiction.
For players and or celebrities who are occasional drug users rehabilitation is a ridiculous proposition. There needs to be strong deterrents in place such as naming and shaming but compulsory rehab for anybody who is not suffering from an addiction, give me a break.
For convicted drink drivers their penance means a suspended license, educational presentations on the impacts of their behaviour and some related community service.
This however does not constitute alcoholics anonymous counselling and unless there is serious evidence of alcoholism then it should remain so.
Likewise for drug use in sport or celebrity life. Sure, have deterrent mechanisms in place and punish those who transgress but automatic rehab for occasional drug use because both things are now supposedly hip or chic his taking things too far.
Players and others in similar positions society are role models in society whether they like it or not, that is beyond question. These people certainly do need to live up to certain standards for the thousands of wide eyed ten year olds who worship them.
Unfortunately at the moment with figures like Kate Moss and Britney Spears their drug battles are becoming part of their still supposedly ‘cool’ personas. A trip to rehab for Lindsay Lohan seems to the gossip mags to be as desirable as a small badly bred dog in a designer handbag. A week at a health retreat is a luxury not a necessity of rehabilitation for serious drug addiction.
For players and or celebrities who are occasional drug users rehabilitation is a ridiculous proposition. There needs to be strong deterrents in place such as naming and shaming but compulsory rehab for anybody who is not suffering from an addiction, give me a break.
For convicted drink drivers their penance means a suspended license, educational presentations on the impacts of their behaviour and some related community service.
This however does not constitute alcoholics anonymous counselling and unless there is serious evidence of alcoholism then it should remain so.
Likewise for drug use in sport or celebrity life. Sure, have deterrent mechanisms in place and punish those who transgress but automatic rehab for occasional drug use because both things are now supposedly hip or chic his taking things too far.
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