Celebrity Enabling

Actor Charlie Sheen was back in the news on Jan. 27, 2011, after being rushed to a Los Angeles-area hospital by ambulance. The hard-partying actor’s rep attributed the medical problem to “severe pain related to a hernia,” according to CNN.com. Sheen left Cedars-Sinai Medical Center later that same day, after being treated for what was characterized as an ongoing condition, but that didn’t stop reporters from swarming the hospital after news of the early morning 911 call leaked.

This second emergency trip to a hospital for Sheen in three months has many speculating that the Two and a Half Men star is on a dangerous downward spiral. His history of addiction may make that concern warranted. The last hospital stay, which began when police responded to an early morning call from the plush Plaza Hotel about "an emotionally disturbed person." Sheen's representative later blamed an "adverse allergic reaction" to a medication. No official charges of substance abuse have been leveled at the star.

Sheen’s hit show was off the week of this most recent incident, and he’s expected to return to the set on Tuesday. But is that what’s best for Sheen in the long run? If he didn't have one of the top-rated comedies on the air, would it be easier for him to receive treatment? Would he be more willing to head back to rehab? When millions of dollars are at stake, that impacts how others treat you, and it has some questioning whether the show’s producers should step in and intervene. What responsibility does Hollywood have when managers, agents, producers and studio heads suspect a star is starting to self-destruct?

Addiction Treatment

If you or someone you love is battling an addiction, call La Paloma at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.