Lindsay Lohan has certainly been effected by the consequences of her disease by last year being sentenced to jail and then most recently ordered to the Betty Ford Center for rehab. Only time will tell as to whether or not rehab has worked for Lindsay this time.  The same holds true for the cast of Celebrity Rehab as they experience rehab at the Pasadena Recovery Center.

There were two examples of consequences on this episode of
Celebrity Rehab 4. The first was with Jason Davis and the second was in a
conversation between Dr. Drew, Leif Garrett and Leif’s mother on family day.
Both interactions show the power and importance of accountability and the
possibility of harsh consequences for an addict’s action.

 Jason left treatment for a few minutes and shortly after he
returned the police showed up, thinking that he was being held against his
will. He had to explain to the police that this wasn’t the case. Although he
didn’t take complete responsibility, he did speak to the police and chose to
stay in the treatment center. The next day Jason had a meeting with Dr. Drew,
Bob and Shirley in regards to his leaving. He proceeded to listen to the exact
nature of what he did. Jason was told about his enabling behavior that puts
other residents at risk. He was made to sit, be quiet and listen. This is an
example of a consequence. He was held accountable for his actions and could
possible be thrown out of rehab should he continue this type of behavior. Leif
Garrett also had a mirror held up to his face in regards to consequences for
one’s actions.

 During the family get together, Leif Garrett and his mother
sat down with Dr. Drew. The conversation brought up a crucial point. Should an
addict be arrested and incarcerated due to his addiction, he or she should not
be bailed out. Leif seemed floored by this, he couldn’t comprehend leaving someone
in jail. He was also unable to fathom the idea that jail would be a way to
treat the disease of addiction.

This is a prime example of being in denial of
your disease and in denial of true accountability for your actions. If an
addict commits a crime and is arrested, they should be just as accountable for
their actions as any other criminal. Their activity was against the law, having
the disease of addiction does not give you a get out of jail free card. This
may be difficult for addicts to accept, but their whims cannot be catered to,
they must deal with the consequences of their actions.

Bailing out a loved one
only tells the disease that the addict can get away with anything, that the
rules don’t apply to them. Having a larger than life attitude and an above the
law mindset result in three things, jail, institutions and death. You do not
pass go and you do not get two hundred dollars. The ultimate consequence for an
addict that is full blown in their disease is death. It is that simple and that
horrific.

 Rules and consequences and accountability are all elements
that functioning human beings deal with on a day-to-day basis. Addicts in
recovery must learn the skills that are necessary to function in the “real”
world. It is a slow process, and one that can be painful if slips do occur, but
it is necessary for the success of recovery.

Sherry Gaba, LCSW, is a Licensed Psychotherapist and Recovery and Life Coach on Celebrity Rehab on VH1 and author of “The Law of Sobriety: Attracting Positive Energy for a Powerful Recovery.”.  Contact Sherry at Sherry@sgabatherapy.com to learn more about psychotherapy, recovery coaching, life coaching, teleseminars, webinars, speaking engagements, and upcoming workshops.  Recovery and life coaching can be done by phone.  Psychotherapy areas served include Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, Malibu, Calabasas, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Camarillo, and Oak Park.