Take a Vicodin-addicted doctor who specializes in infectious diseases and solves medical cases that no one else can, and you have the television show House on the Fox Network. Hugh Laurie stars as Dr. Gregory House, a brilliant doctor who works on the most complex cases, but has little social skills in his everyday life.

While House is a fictional character, I love the show. Two things have attracted me to House. The first is his quirks. He doesn't seem to like people; he agitates his colleagues; and is often at odds with the hospital's administrator, Dr. Lisa Cuddy

The second thing that makes me tune in each week to this show is that House is dealing with chronic leg pain. House suffered an infarction in his right thigh which blocked blood flow to his leg. After three days of misdiagnosis he sustained severe nerve damage and muscle death. In the show, he takes Vicodin to treat the pain and has become addicted to the powerful pain killer. This addiction has caused many problems for House and allows subplots in every episode.

House needs some professional help to break his addiction to Vicodina combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone. He pops the pain medication as if it was candy and has gotten in some trouble with the law due to his addiction.

In the 2009 season finale of House, the doctor finally sought treatment for his addiction. The episode ends with House walking into a psychiatric facility as his best friend, Dr. James Wilson, looks on. House had been dealing with hallucinations and was beginning to question his ability to practice medicine. He voluntarily enters the facility for treatment.

What lies ahead for House is anyone's guess. The writers may focus on House's psychological and physical pain. The show could highlight his treatment, including individual and group therapy; nutritional counseling and an exercise regime. House would continue to show its humor and drama despite the treatment scenario. It will be interesting to see whether the House writers keep him in the psychiatric hospital or perhaps forge ahead a few months to show him after the inpatient treatment has been completed. Either way, I'm sure House won't lose all his quirks.

Whatever happens, House is sure to continue to be a successful show. House has already had more than 100 episodes and has won three Emmy awards and had 17 Emmy award nominations. House has also received two Golden Globe Awards and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Learn more about this author, Laura Seil Ruszczyk.
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