relapse aetv is about sober coaches who fail because 1 week is not enough

Meet the sober coaches of A&E 'Relapse"

Before dr. sober companion gives our point of view and critique the show, lets first read the press release about "relapse"

A&E Network is in production on the new original Real-Life series, "Relapse" from the Emmy®-Award winning producers of A&E's critically acclaimed "Intervention." The series will follow sober coaches as they do whatever it takes to help high-risk addicts break the cycle of relapse and addiction. Five one-hour episodes of "Relapse" have been ordered and will premiere second quarter 2011.


"Relapse" is an intense, emotionally charged series that follows the country's leading sober coaches as they work to save the lives of addicts who have turned back to drugs and alcohol. More than 50% of addicts who get sober will relapse, and addicts who continue to do so, generally need one-on-one help. Sober coaches are former addicts who have found their way back to clean living. They dedicate their lives to giving individualized attention to those who can't break their destructive habits. The coaches are often a last resort for addicts who have tried other methods to get sober but have failed.

Each episode of "Relapse" follows two sober coaches over the course of a week as they work one-on-one with addicts to get them through painful withdrawal symptoms, face personal challenges and reconnect with family and friends who have lost hope. The coaches know the road back to sobriety and will do whatever it takes, no matter how drastic, to help the clients get sober. For the first time ever, viewers will be invited to ride along with sober coaches as they jump into the lives of their clients, forming a bond that is the heart of every episode, and make them face their demons head on.

"Relapse" is produced by GRB Productions for A&E Network. Gary Benz, Michael Branton and Dan Partland are executive producers. Jeff Grogan serves as co-executive producer. A&E executive producers are Robert Sharenow and Jordana Hochman. Colleen Conway developed the series for A&E.


After watching a few episodes of aetv relapse about sober coaches (sober companions), I saw some details about sober companions (sober coaches) that may be confusing to someone seeking help.

Dr. Sober Companion wanted to clarify  a few issues:

1. Dr. Sober Companion Rob Tencer DC, BSc was asked to appear on "Relapse", but turned the offer down, when I was told I could work on the addict for only 1 week.

2. It has now become apparent that the addicts were still using, and did not meet the requirement by Dr. Sober Companion, that the addicts must be detoxed for at least 1 month, prior to dr. sober companion having any positive affect on helping the addict.

3. Dropping an addict off at a recovery center instead of staying with them is an abandonment of the job, if done within the same time frame that they have paid for 24 hour supervision. (in fairness, with only 1 week to help an addict, dropping them off at rehab is better than the family identifying the body at the county morgue)

4. Not searching the addicts body, clothing and other personal items for drugs, before accepting them is also inexcusable.

5. Not removing the addict from their environment and their hidden stashes, and close by dealers is also careless and inexcusable. (the addict knows every hiding place in their own home. stash is always close by)

6. Not removing ALL enablers, including family, friends, spouses, children, girlfriends, boyfriends, best friend is the same as doing nothing to help them.

Neighborhood drug dealers (close to home)

7. Not staying with the addict 24 hours a day, is also an abandonment of duties as a sober companion / sober coach.

While all the sober coaches on aetv are recovering addicts themselves, who think they understand an addict better because they were once in just as bad shape as the addicts, I am here to tell you that this misinformation is just untrue. An recovering addict is just as susceptible to the temptation as the addict they are trying to help. The demons that the sober coaches on aetv are carrying are heavily weighing them down every day of their lives.

So dr. sober companion rejected the offer by aetv.com "relapse" to help someone addicted within 1 week, because this short amount of time guarantees failure. A minimal amount of time would be 30 days, to actually do the addict some good.

While dr. sober companion Rob Tencer DC, Bsc is only one man, and unable to help more than 1 addict at a time, he is hiring sober companions who have a similar ideology, philosophy, and similar treatment plan for helping addicts. If interested: Please send your photo and a resume to email dr. sober companion.