If there’s anything that fascinates celebrity-obsessed audiences more than celebrities, it’s watching celebrities deal with their real-life problems. The famous folks who appear on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, which is filmed at the Pasadena Recovery Center, have problems aplenty—and they’re no laughing matter. Here we rank the ten most shocking moments in the reality show’s history
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10. Eric Roberts and his stepson reunite
Julia Roberts’s famous older brother was admitted to rehab for an allegedly severe marijuana addiction. This, after his stepson beat him with a baseball bat (leaving him with a broken rib) following an argument 16 years ago. The two finally agree to talk on the show. With the guidance of Dr. Drew, the pair is able to rekindle their relationship.
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9. Steven Adler's breakdown (24:25-28:31)
Prior to being admitted to rehab, the former Guns ‘N Roses drummer recalls a suicide attempt that led to a stroke and left him comatose. Years later and still heavily abusing drugs, Adler agrees to appear on Celebrity Rehab and get sober for his former band mate, Slash. “I want my best friend Slash back,” he says, “’cause he means everything to me.” Unfortunately, that sentiment doesn’t stop Adler from getting high on the car ride to a psychiatric hospital.
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8. Janice Dickenson Contemplates Suicide
In a genuinely frightening episode, the former supermodel confides in a friend that she is thinking about taking her own life while enduring withdrawal from benzodiazepine.
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7. Mary Carey's sex toys are confiscated (17:30-18:07)
The porn star (and 2003 California gubernatorial candidate) checks into Celebrity Rehab to conquer a sex addiction. Upon her entering the facility, the staff finds and confiscates sex toys and pornography in her suitcase—much to her new roommate’s relief. Carey’s reaction at being unable to keep sex toys while dealing with her particular addiction makes for great TV.
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6. Leif Garrett orders a beer with lunch
Once he has earned the freedom to go to a restaurant for lunch, former teen idol Leif Garrett orders a cold one to “see if drinking a beer would make him want to use.”
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5. Mindy McCready's seizure
In the middle of laughing with her roommate, Mackenzie Phillips, country singer Mindy McCready has a seizure that lands her in the hospital. When she falls to the ground, Phillips is certain she’s joking and thus continues to laugh and clap her hands. Later McCready claims her seizure was the result of an untreated head injury she sustained at the hands of an abusive ex and was not set off by drug or alcohol use.
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4. Jeff Conaway assaults his girlfriend (2:07)
In an altercation with his girlfriend during season two, actor Jeff Conaway loses control and kicks her in the ribs.
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3. Seth "Shifty" Binzer is caught smoking crack
Upon hearing a clamor, Dr. Drew discovers that one of his patients is smoking crack on the roof. Once caught, Shifty promises to come downstairs, but not before enjoying “one more blast.” Dr. Drew and his staff patiently wait for Shifty to finish smoking.
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2. Jeff Conaway dies
After appearing on seasons one and two of Celebrity Rehab, on May 18 Jeff Conaway is lying in a hospital in a medically induced coma with severe pneumonia. He is taken off life support on May 26 and dies the next day. He is the second cast member of Celebrity Rehab to die.
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1. Mike Starr dies
The season three cast member and former bassist of Alice in Chains is found dead on March 8. It is presumed that he died of an overdose, as a month earlier he had been found in possession of a controlled substance.
Videos courtesy of Associated Press, MTV, and Vh1