Dr. Phil accused of offering drugs, alcohol to addict guests TODD HERZOG, WHO APPEARED ON DR. PHIL TO DISCUSS HIS ALCOHOLISM, CLAIMS HE FOUND A BOTTLE OF VODKA IN HIS DRESSING ROOM, WHICH HE DRANK, AND LATER HE WAS ALLEGEDLY GIVEN XANAX
Former guests on Dr. Phil have accused the show of exploiting addict guests by providing them with drugs and alcohol. The guests have claimed it was all done in an attempt to boost the ratings of the show, which was hosted by former psychologist and host Phil McGraw, reports aceshowbiz.com.
Todd Herzog, a former Survivor: China winner, appeared on Dr. Phil to discuss his alcoholism. He detailed to the health news publication STAT and Boston Globe that he found a bottle of vodka in his dressing room. After drinking the vodka, he was allegedly given Xanax to “calm his nerves”. That led him to be totally wasted by the time he was about to go on the stage to the point he needed to be physically carried to his chair.
“You know, I get that it’s a television show and that they want to show the pain that I’m in. However, what would have happened if I [had] died there? You know, that’s horrifying,” said Herzog, who blew a .263 of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) when Dr. Phil breathalyzed him in the episode. It is to be noted that 0.001–0.029 is the ideal level.
Marianne Smith, a family member of another guest identified as Jordan, added that Dr. Phil staffers advised her to go to Skid Row to buy heroin. While McGraw didn’t respond to the claims, Martin Greenberg, a psychologist who serves as the show’s director of professional affairs, denied the claims. In response to Herzog’s allegation, Greenberg said, “We do not do that with this guest or any other... [the claims are] absolutely, unequivocally untrue.”
“These people volunteer to come on. They beg to come on. And he tries to treat them with respect, and to give them the opportunity to get help if they want to do that,” Greenberg added. Reportedly, all guests are “medically supervised the entire time” they are involved with “tapings of Dr. Phil”.