Lutherville Drug Expert Criticizes 'Celebrity Rehab' Following Country Singer Suicide

Lutherville resident and former Baltimore County drug czar Mike Gimbel isn't shy when it comes to talking about his struggles with drug addiction. 

He's even less shy about sharing his opinions about drug and alcohol abuse, if he thinks it'll help someone—especially children—make the right decisions.

Earlier this week, Gimbel turned his attention to the reality show Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. 

"The nationally recognized drug treatment show Celebrity Rehab has had their 5th death of a cast member,  country singer Mindy McCready," Gimbel said in a statement. "It shows that drug/alcohol treatment should be a private/long-term experience that is between the patient, their family and their therapist, not the general public."

In 2012, Gimbel celebrated 40 years of being free from herion addiction, according to WBAL-TV. In his biography on his for his consulting firm, Mike Gimbel Associations, the title simply reads "First and foremost, Mike Gimbel has been there." 

"The reason that Alcoholics Anonymous is so successful is because it maintains the recovering addicts anonymity," Gimbel said. "Going on a national television show for rehab is proving to be more hurtful than helpful. It also makes rehab seem easy and glamorous."

McCready was pronouced dead of an apparent suicide Sunday. Dr. Drew Pinsky defended the reality show that he hosts to L.A. Times, even referring to the last time he spoke on the phone with the troubled country singer when he urged to go to a hospital.

The Huffington Post reported that McCready's ex-boyfriend, and father to her oldest child, Billy McKnight said McCready had left rehab too soon. 

It's life lesson like the Mindy McCready tragedy that Gimbel uses as examples when he speaks to children about avoiding drugs and alcohol. 

Today, the drug expert and consultant works for the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson where he helms the annual Powered by Me! conference for student-athletes. 

Read more about Mike Gimbel: 

• Sports Conference Inspires Athletes to Make Right Choices
• Timonium Drug Expert Explains Danger of 'Bath Salts'
• New Year's Eve: Safe and Sober Party Tips
• Former County Drug Czar Urges Safe Prescription Disposal
• St. Joseph's Powered By Me! Hopes to Curb Dangerous Behaviors of High School Athletes