Some of the more popular segments from the daytime talk show “Dr. Phil” are when they have addicts as guests and Dr. Phil tries to help them recover from addiction. However, multiple guests have spoken up about their experiences with the show, and some of their stories are more than concerning.
For example, when Todd Herzog appeared drunk on the show, he says it was because the show’s staff put Xanax and a bottle of vodka in his changing room.
Another previous guest tells of a staff member following her around filming her while she searched for heroin. Furthermore, the show attempts to force these addicts to detox cold turkey, which can be fatal for some substances if they are not professionally monitored. For instance, Xanax withdrawal symptoms are especially dangerous to deal with on your own.
OS ANGELES — He had won “Survivor,” the reality TV test of grit and strength. But Todd Herzog was so drunk when he appeared on the “Dr. Phil” show in 2013 that he had to be carried onto the set and lifted into a chair.
“I’ve never talked to a guest who was closer to death,” show host Phillip McGraw declared on camera.
TV viewers, however, didn’t see the setup for this shocking scene. Herzog, who was battling alcoholism, told STAT and the Boston Globe that he was not intoxicated when he arrived at the Los Angeles studio. In his dressing room, he said, he found a bottle of Smirnoff vodka. He drank all of it. Then someone handed him a Xanax, he said, telling him it would “calm his nerves.” Click Here to Continue Reading