Ep 8. The Disease Is Winning

Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew season 1 episode 8, "The Disease Is Winning," focuses on the ongoing struggle for sobriety among the celebrity patients. Dr. Drew Pinsky and his team are faced with the harsh reality that addiction is a lifelong battle and a relapse can happen at any moment.

The patients are still reeling from the departure of Jessica Sierra in the previous episode, and tensions are high among the remaining cast members. Gary Busey is growing increasingly erratic and distant, and his wife arrives as a guest to express her concerns about his behavior. Meanwhile, Jeff Conaway continues to struggle with pain management after quitting his prescription drugs, and his erratic behavior is causing friction amongst his fellow patients.

Dr. Drew turns to intensive therapy sessions to address the underlying issues that are keeping the patients stuck in their addiction patterns. In one particularly emotional session, Shifty Shellshock opens up about his troubled childhood and how it led him down a dark path of drug abuse. Dr. Drew empathizes with Shifty’s struggles but stresses the importance of taking full responsibility for his actions and committing to sobriety.

In another therapy session, Nikki McKibbin confronts her past traumas and the emotional pain that led her to addiction. She admits that she has been struggling with suicidal ideations and regrets not disclosing the full extent of her struggles earlier on in treatment.

The patients are also given an opportunity to participate in a group outing, which serves as a test of their newfound sobriety. They visit Venice Beach, and for many of them, it's the first time they've been in a social setting without drugs or alcohol. While there are a few tense moments, the group ultimately has a good time and bonds over their shared experiences.

By the end of the episode, it's clear that addiction is a tangled web that takes time and patience to unravel. Dr. Drew reminds the patients that recovery is a lifelong process and encourages them to stay committed to their individual treatment plans. As the season draws to a close, viewers are left wondering if the patients will be able to maintain their sobriety once they leave the safety of the rehab center.