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Parents' Guide to

Sober House

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Next step of celebrity rehab isn't meant for young viewers.

TV VH1 Reality TV 2009
Sober House Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Avacado
Avacado Parent of 15-year-old
January 23, 2009
age 17+

I Question it??

Okay, I agree with the reviewer who said Steve was being antagonized. He certainly was! Of course, I also think it was purposely done to get those high ratings. If everyone was goody, goody, no one would watch the show! I also think the police were really called because the "housemother" was hurting over Steve's comments to her and also for those higher ratings. I Question: Is Steve really as messed up as they portray or again, is he and they doing all of this for the ratings?????
soul64
soul64 Adult
January 23, 2009
age 13+

Annoying

I just watched the episode where the police were called in to take Steve out of the house. Ridiculous! He was not abusive. You guys kept annoying him by opening the door over and over etc... As high as he was, all he kept saying was "do you guys mind I'm trying to get dressed." And of course he's going to call the girl a bitch she was annoying! You don't help drug addicts when they relapse by annoying behavior and INSTIGATING further bad behavior. You guys are dramatizing drugs at this point and trying to make your show more "DRAMATIC". Concentrate on being more mature than the addict and not causing a mess so you can act like you have something to clean up. You could have sat him down and spoke with him in calm language, consistent and trustworthy, kept an eye on him with the hidden camera so he does no harm to himself. Then in the morning address the issue, (of course considering whatever the drug is causing in his system). If he was throwing desks, trying to hit someone etc... I could understand restraint, but he tried to save a falling lamp for christ sake!!!! You guys were like flies buzzing around, like children annoying adults with repetitive movement and useless chatter, walking in and out of the room talking nothing that would actually help him. Then after so many times Steve asks to have the door closed and the guy with the headset slams the door and says something smart ass back and starts saying Steves abusive! HUH???? Who's on drugs? What's on second, cause this show is borderline abusive and glamorizing the wrong subject matter.
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

SOBER HOUSE follows graduates of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew as they take the next step in their journey toward sobriety. After completing 21 days of residential treatment, substance abuse patients like former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler, Crazy Town rapper Seth "Shifty" Binzer, and former American Idol contestant Nikki McKibbin leave the safety of a highly monitored rehab program and move into an outpatient group home supervised by actress/recovering addict Jennifer Gimenez. For 30 days, they must live by strict house rules, which include finding (and keeping) a job, adhering to curfews, abstaining from sexual activity, and, most importantly, staying away from alcohol and drugs. Meanwhile, Dr. Drew and his staff continue to work with the celebs as they make some tough life-changing choices, recover from relapses, and transition to a clean-and-sober life.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (1 ):

This voyeuristic series offers an inside look at the different phases of addiction treatment, as well as the various challenges that addicts face on a daily basis in order to live a substance-free lifestyle. Although there are some strong personalities and over-the-top behavior (usually the result of a patient's relapse), the drama really centers on each celebrity's struggles and successes with the recovery process.

Overall, this show could potentially serve as a warning to teens who are -- or have ever been -- tempted to follow the destructive paths of these public figures. But the strong content -- including footage of packets of heroin, syringes, and celebs using and getting sick from drugs and alcohol (most of which is more prominent during the first few episodes) -- isn't meant for kids, with the possible exception of older teens who can understand the context in which all of this damaging behavior is taking place.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the realities of alcohol and drug addiction, as well as the celebrities who struggle publicly with it. Do you think being in the media spotlight makes it harder for someone to become clean and sober? Are media reports about celebrities' addiction problems meant to send a negative message about drug and alcohol abuse, or are they simply gossip? Parents: In an age of celebrity worship and tabloid trash-fests, is it more difficult to raise a well-adjusted, substance-free teen? How does the media both help and hinder your efforts? Families can also discuss the process of coping with addiction. After rehab is over, what efforts do recovering addicts need to make to live a substance-free lifestyle? What if they relapse? How can others support their recovery without enabling or isolating them?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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