Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Rehabs

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver discussed rehabs this week. If you are unfamiliar with the show, it is a late night talk and news satire on HBO. Like any HBO show, it is well produced and wonderfully written. I am personally an avid viewer of the show. Last Week Tonight shone a light on a variety of interesting untold stories. In the past, he has highlighted problems of many organizations including FIFA and often dives into some ludicrous stories of politics. Almost all of the time, we can laugh along and agree with what he is saying. Last night was no exception. His story was actually pretty accurate. Let me explain. He is not wrong to say there is something inherently wrong with the rehab treatment industry of Florida – there most certainly is. This might sound strange coming from a rehab in Florida, but in fact, this is one of the primary reasons why Coalition Recovery started: to combat the problems of addiction as well as the problems with the rehab industry – neither is an easier task than the other. The stigma created by Florida rehabs is justified. The amount of treatment services that participate in patient brokering (paying an individual with insurance to attend treatment) and play their part in the “Florida Shuffle” is repulsive. The worst part about this problem is if someone needs help, it is almost impossible for them to distinguish between a rehab that is qualified and reputable to one that is morally unjust. John Oliver made a point to say that “…the vast majority of people in need of treatment do not receive anything that approximates evidence-based care.” While this is horribly true, many those same treatment centers still advertise they participate in evidence-based treatments. So you might be wondering, “If rehabs can falsely advertise their treatments, how do I tell if the rehab is legitimate?” Last Week Tonight consulted with several experts who suggested starting instead with a doctor board-certified in addiction medicine. “It’s only recently become an official specialty, so there just aren’t many of them around,” Oliver states. You can look for these types of physicians online. Based on their expertise, they are better to diagnose the addiction and also provide the proper places to attend treatment. I’m not here to tell you that his story was inaccurate or wrong. In fact, this story is wonderful for shining light on the treatment centers with bad practices like patient brokering. The more awareness we can raise about this issue, the faster we can resolve it. Apart from helping people overcome their substance abuse problems, it is our mission to advocate for change; whether that be for law reform, ending the stigma around addiction, or leading the industry by displaying the appropriate ways to combat this disease.

If you are looking for addiction help, please do not hesitate to reach out. Coalition Recovery establishes the highest standards for addiction treatment and employs board-certified addiction specialists to properly treat addiction. If you have any questions or concerns about our program or addiction in general please call us at 888.707.2873 – We Are Here to Help!