Dr Phil denies staff gave guests drugs and alcohol
Popular television host Dr Phil has vehemently denied allegations that staff on his hit show, Dr Phil, provided guests with drugs and alcohol in an effort to create on-screen drama.
An investigation completed by the Boston Globe and the website Stat provided multiple sources who alleged incidents in which the show 'endangered guests.'
A Dr Phil spokesperson said, 'The Stat article does not fairly or accurately describe the methods of 'Dr. Phil,' the TV show, or its mission to educate millions of viewers about drug and alcohol addiction.
'The show does not give drugs or alcohol to its guests and any suggestions to the contrary is errant nonsense.'
The Stat-Boston Globe investigation spoke to Todd Herzog, a former Survivor US winner who appeared on the Dr Phil show in 2013 to discuss his addiction problems. During his appearance Herzog appears to be intoxicated. According to the report, his intoxication was due to the Dr Phil staff providing him with alcohol.
Herzog claimed that when he arrived at the show, he found drugs and alcohol waiting in his dressing room.
Martin Greenberg, a psychologist who regularly appears on Dr Phil, denied that Herzog was provided with drugs and alcohol, and further claims that staff who filmed guests' trips buying various drugs were simply documenting behaviour that those guests engaged in on their own.
Further, two other guests have had family members come forward and claim Dr Phil staff encouraged their relatives to buy heroin.
Dr Phil's full statement regarding the allegations reads: 'The Stat article does not fairly or accurately describe the methods of 'Dr. Phil,' the TV show, or its mission to educate millions of viewers about drug and alcohol addiction. The show does not give drugs or alcohol to its guests and any suggestions to the contrary is errant nonsense.
:For the past 16 years, the Dr. Phil show has provided valuable information to viewers by telling compelling stories about people who are fighting the battle to overcome alcohol and drug addiction. Unfortunately, addicts often lash out at the very people who are trying the hardest to help them break the cycle of addiction. Although terribly unfortunate, this is an understandable part of the behavior of addicts on their journey to recovery. Deception, dishonesty and denial are hallmarks of addiction. It tears families apart and certainly creates levels of complexities when we produce these important shows. None of this will deter the Dr. Phil show from it's commitment to continue to educate and inform the public about the worsening epidemic of addiction."
This article originally appeared on New Idea.
