Luxury drug rehabs have become increasingly common, with thanks to the celebrity world whereby troubled popstars and actors check into rehabs as though they are hotels or spas. While rehabs are originally meant for patients to recover from a drug addiction, injuries and medical issues or mental illnesses, it has gained a reputation as a centre solely for addicts.
- $15 million dollar centre in Malibu, Passages.
The founder, Chris Prentiss, stresses that rehabs should do away with archaic principles of punishing those with addiction by making them “clean bathrooms and wash dishes as part of their therapy”. His vision is to allow addicts a place free from shame, and what better way to encourage that kind of thinking than to build the centre on the beach in a resort style?
- The Australian centre for celebrities and trust fund babies, Sanctuary.
Michael Goldberg was once and addict himself and now charges $140,000 for his four week program. It is so private, you wouldn’t even know who your neighbours are. Each client is housed in a multi-million dollar penthouse, located on Byron Bay. Each penthouse comes with its own chef, butler, nurse, masseuse, psychologist, doctor and sleep hygienist. Plus, personal support is available 24 hours a day.
- Ex-cocaine addict and his successful Cliffside Malibu.
With 20 years of knowing how it feels like to be an addict, Richard Taite has now dedicated his life to helping others get clean through luxury. With Ralph Lauren furnishings and an ultra-flat TV in every room to help his patients fall asleep rather than pass out; which is what he claims that addicts do, stating that “an addict doesn’t know how to fall asleep: he passes out. If I can help him pass out watching MSNBC on a big-screen TV, instead of using his drug of choice, then we’re doing pretty good.”
- Have horses nurse you back to health at Harmony Place.
Animal therapy has been proven to be successful in rehabilitating and stimulating recovery. This ranch-like rehab centre charges $40,000 a month in Woodland Hills in California. Guests are free to “participate in equine-assisted psychotherapy”, burn excess energy at the gym or simply relax at the elegantly decorated place while recovering from eating disorders, addiction or behavioural health problems like anxiety or depression.
- Beau Monde, a French fashionable society, is taking over America.
A chain of rehab centres are dotted along Newport Beach, Hollywood Hills and Laguna Beach. For $96,000 a month, clients are able to do a variety of activities such as whale watching, shopping, massages and served gourmet meals.
While there are a number of issues with the current practices of rehabs, such as the obsolete 12-step program that employs the use of prayer that requires patients to surrender to a higher power, which is used in many treatment centres, it is an effort for America to lower its high addiction rates. As addiction is becoming increasingly common and accepted, it will not be long until we check into a centre for our addiction to technology.
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