02-18-2013, 11:13 AM
I don't think that they're being used at all.
They get paid.
They get free treatment at a prominent facility with excellent medical staff and counselors.
They get an opportunity to turn their lives around and get the attention/exposure they seek.
They get an opportunity to inspire others to seek treatment.
There are a couple of celeb patients who've stayed the course after graduation and gotten a career boost to boot. Even amongst the ones that have relapsed or died, I don't think that any ever claimed that their choice to be filmed during their rehah exasperated their problems or harmed them in any way.
Granted, the producers of the show are probably more concerned about ratings than the well-being of the participants, but that's the same for any show (even the news) these days, imo,
When it comes to children on reality shows, I agree that they're being used. It's not their choice. Their parents are using them for money and/or attention.
They get paid.
They get free treatment at a prominent facility with excellent medical staff and counselors.
They get an opportunity to turn their lives around and get the attention/exposure they seek.
They get an opportunity to inspire others to seek treatment.
There are a couple of celeb patients who've stayed the course after graduation and gotten a career boost to boot. Even amongst the ones that have relapsed or died, I don't think that any ever claimed that their choice to be filmed during their rehah exasperated their problems or harmed them in any way.
Granted, the producers of the show are probably more concerned about ratings than the well-being of the participants, but that's the same for any show (even the news) these days, imo,
When it comes to children on reality shows, I agree that they're being used. It's not their choice. Their parents are using them for money and/or attention.