It’s official: America is obsessed with reality TV. And, in many cases, the grittier, and more “real” the reality the better. Many of the most popular reality TV shows chronicle people going through incredibly personal moments or spans of time in their lives, moments that traditionally have only happened behind closed doors or within the presence of a select group of family and friends. Now, some of these moments are captured on film and broadcast for the entire world of television owners to see.
Some of the most popular reality television shows follow people who are addicted to drugs, alcohol, sex, adrenaline, or a constellation of dangerous substances or practices. While the people on these shows are aware that they are participating in a documentary about addiction, they are sometimes surprised when the tables are turned and, instead of telling their story, their friends and families step in to try and get them to go to rehab.
Some critics assert that, whether or not the people in these shows are willing to go on camera, and even if they know that rehab, therapy, or detox is part of the agreement, that the practice of filming these moments of their lives is exploitative. These critics often assert that the simple act of chronicling suffering and distributing it for the purposes of entertainment is an act of exploitation.
Whether or not these critics are right, many shows on addiction get good ratings and film season after season of episodes. In fact, there have now been many cases in which the people suffering from addiction are also people who have watched past episodes of the show. The morality, or questionably morality of these shows is a point of contention for some people, but one thing is certain: the television watching public is more aware of addiction and intervention, and perhaps more informed than before.
