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The latest offering from VH-1, home of celebreality' shows, is 'Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew' which airs Thursday nights at 10 pm EST. At first glance, the show seems to be nothing more than an exploitative look at some celebrity's struggle with excess, and about as substantive as Scott Baio's seemingly never-ending quest for maturity.

However, watching the first few episodes revealed that there's something more here. The show seems to have more in common with A&E's gritty, no-holds-barred 'Intervention' than any of the other 'celebreality' shows on VH-1. Except for the patients in the rehab center being 'celebrities' (and that's debatable because appearing during one season of 'American Idol' doesn't necessarily entitle one entry into 'celebritydom'), the issues they face in rehab are the same as Joe or Judy Ordinary.

There are the often-crippling withdrawal symptoms, some of which are severe enough to require hospitalization. There are the intense, emotionally raw group therapy sessions and the even more emotionally charged one-on-one sessions with Dr. Drew Pinsky (he of the 'Loveline' and talk shows fame). There's the pain and turmoil that comes with examining your life and mistakes and how those mistakes have impacted your loved ones.

Sure, the celebrities on this show may have access, means and opportunities to their drug of choice in ways that Joe and Judy Ordinary don't, but in the end, an addict's an addict, and that's how this show approaches it. There's something. . .real and genuine, about watching Ricco Rodrigeuz (from the UFC) getting told that 'addicts lie' as his bag is searched, or watching Dr. Drew discuss the dangers of withdrawal symptoms as Jeff Conway ('Grease' and 'Taxi' alum) gets whisked away by ambulance to the local hospital. Heroin doesn't care if you're an A-lister or just a 'regular Joe,' it will wreak havoc on your life in the same way. Addiction is a disease and diseases don't discriminate based on perceived 'star power.' In this way, it makes these celebrities relatable, and by being able to relate, viewers can see and begin to understand the complex issues surrounding addiction and recovery.

Another plus for this show is Dr. Drew himself. He comes across as compassionate, knowledgeable and no-nonsense. Telling Jeff Conway's co-dependent, enabling girlfriend that she could potentially kill Conway because she was carrying opiates that he's trying to get off of was done in a professional, straight forward manner. Perhaps that is Dr.

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