Rob Lowe On Rehab: 'It Was Great. I Loved It.'

Rob Lowe has been sober for just about 21 years, and in promoting his new book, "Stories I Only Tell My Friends," he has been very open in discussing both his substance abuse problem and his rehabilitation.

Lowe, who checked into rehab after half a decade of partying that culminated in a sex tape scandal, spoke about that period with CNN's Piers Morgan; the "Parks and Recreation" star said that he has no desire to drink even a glass of wine -- because he couldn't drink just one.

"That's how you know you're one of us," he said.

Morgan led Lowe into speaking in detail about his rehab, which Lowe describes in his book as "one of the most exhilarating, liberating and exciting four weeks of my life. Scary yes... but unquantifiable relief." The star went even further on the show.

"It was great. I loved it. Because I was ready. Problem is, people go into rehab and they're not ready," Lowe explained. "You want to get sober for your parents, you want to get sober for your job, you want to get sober for the cops, you want to get sober to protect your image. A lot of good reasons, by the way, but unfortunately, the only thing that works is that you have to want to get sober for you. So, I was ready. And so if they told me, 'Hey, Lowe, you've got to go stand in the corner on your head,' I would have done it."

When it comes to Charlie Sheen, Lowe's old friend from their teen star days as members of the Brat Pack, he echoed statements he made to PopEater, saying that Sheen did not want help -- and that he was wrong about rehab.

"He's wrong... You don't get to do it your way. You don't get to make up your own special rules. We have a name for people like that. Those are people who suffer from terminal uniqueness. You don't get to do it your way."

For more on Lowe's book, click over to a long exploration of the book here.

WATCH:

Comments

[AD]

12:31 PM on 05/09/2011

"Terminal uniqueness" I have never heard that term before, but I do know one or two very self-destructive individuals who certainly have this condition.

[finallylegal]

02:15 AM on 05/10/2011

wow!!! never heard the term before, but it is exactly spot-on for someone i know!! ROFLMAO

[ReesieKitty]

11:16 AM on 05/09/2011

My father is a recovering alcoholic who has been sober for several years and this is exactly what h has always said. I'm glad Rob Lowe was able to get himself together- he is very funny on Parks and Recreation!

[EgregiousEgregious]

10:58 AM on 05/09/2011

Lowe, unfortunately, glosses over his relationship with Melissa Gilbert. According to Wikipedia, it began when she was 17 years old and lasted off-and-on for six years. After Lowe's failed romance with Princess Stéphanie, he suddenly proposed to Gilbert. While making wedding plans, Gilbert found out she was pregnant. Upon being informed of the pregnancy, Lowe ended their relationship. Gilbert miscarried days later.

[gtx281]

12:20 PM on 05/09/2011

So? You make it sound like he threw her down a flight of stairs.

[Fudgefase]

04:33 AM on 05/09/2011

Well done Rob. I like his lack of sympathy too - empathy was there, but not sympathy for Charlie. He's been there, done all that, and recognised the problem and the solution. He'll be there for his pal when his pal truly needs him. Until then, he'll take a back seat and wait to help him when the time is right.

[sailor422]

06:38 AM on 05/09/2011

He was absolutely right. You can't make someone want to get sober. They have to come to that place themselves. That is why the recovery statistics look so bad. Nost of the people who get to rehab don't really want to be there.

[Marty Concussion]

03:46 AM on 05/09/2011

He comes across as honest and extremely cool here.

[MexiChick67]

03:39 AM on 05/09/2011

Some 25+ years ago when I was in high school, Rob Lowe was the hottest thing on two feet. Girls has his picture all over their binders in adoration. I had the chance to meet him and I found that he was super nice and really sweet. He signed autographs, chatted a bit, and I took pictures, which I quickly had developed so that I could take to school as soon as I could get them back (darn that digital cameras did not exist). For a few days this awkward, unpopular and geeky girl was on top of the school food chain. I never will forget how good that felt. Thank you, Rob!

[agness nutter]

07:26 AM on 05/09/2011

Everyone should have a couple of days like that in their high school lives.

[European1919]

07:29 AM on 05/09/2011

Meeting Rob Lowe and bragging about it would have had an adverse effect on my street cred.

[MexiChick67]

01:54 PM on 05/10/2011

Yes, it was my John Hughes movie moment =)

[European1919]

03:35 AM on 05/09/2011

He's certainly got the problem sussed. Which is what a lot of alcoholics and all coke addicts do not have - an actual realisation of their own problem. And as Mr. Lowe pointed out: until that sets in and you reach that stage all offers of help or even forced help will not bring about the desired result.
Nothing wrong with recreational use of all sorts of substances. But don't ever be so weak as to let them run your life.

[Scott MacKenzie]

03:12 AM on 05/09/2011

I would hate it if I had to quit drinking, I LOVE TO DRINK. I have no problem not drinking during the week or for a week or so, but why not drink ??? I LOVE IT

[MexiChick67]

03:29 AM on 05/09/2011

I enjoy drinking, too. But, for some people it's not about drinking to enjoy the taste, chilling out, etc. but about forgetting problems. Then there are the issues of blacking out, not being able to go to work because of hang overs, being obnoxious, getting violent, sloppy, dangerous driving, etc. Then it becomes a problem.

[BuckoForce]

05:11 AM on 05/09/2011

well said.

[Megandale]

10:03 AM on 05/09/2011

That's great that you love to drink and it doesn't have any consequences - many people wish they could do that! But alcholohics don't drink for the taste of it, or for a tiny buzz. As Mexi says, when a person's life becomes unmanageable because of drinking, that's a problem.

[BurritoT]

02:49 AM on 05/09/2011

I wonder what Mr. Winning will have to say about this.

[kapalabhati]

12:13 PM on 05/09/2011

Something unintelligible.

[dkay888]

01:40 AM on 05/09/2011

It's not a disease! it's an excuse!!

[cybolt]

01:47 AM on 05/09/2011

Tell it to the AMA before you head back under the bridge.

[Tmboy]

08:58 AM on 05/09/2011

Opinion are like .... well I dont have to finish that, do i?

[TabaskoKat]

01:27 AM on 05/09/2011

young age ?! are you serious rob lowe was young 30 yrs ago

[beadingchef]

12:41 AM on 05/09/2011

21 years of sobriety is an amazing thing. And as he states he was ready, Charlie Sheen may not be ready, I hope that he is soon. Ah the great river of denial! I spent longer then 4 weeks in rehab, and where I went saved my life. I celebrated 7 years this week.

[Kitten Kramer]

03:24 AM on 05/09/2011

A huge congradulations to you and another 7+ years.

[sailor422]

06:41 AM on 05/09/2011

congrats! It keeps getting better doesn't it?

[Charlie Fox]

12:24 AM on 05/09/2011

Hah! "Terminal uniqueness" I'm going to have to remember that one.

[Fudgefase]

04:34 AM on 05/09/2011

Unfortunately, I think the key word is terminal. That would be a very bleak outcome for Charlie.

[sunny64]

12:03 AM on 05/09/2011

Wonderful article. Rob's description of people who go into rehab "wanting to do it their way, make-up their own special rules" describes perfectly my behavior when I went into rehab. My condition was describes as being "an intellectual giant, but an emotional pygmy." I'm so grateful that I became teachable. It has been 28 wonderful years of living life on life's terms.

[ColoradoCool]

12:36 AM on 05/09/2011

Congrats! Fanned from 25 years clean and sober!

[Kitten Kramer]

03:25 AM on 05/09/2011

F&F and hope you have another 28 years to go!

[Cye]

11:39 PM on 05/08/2011

Words of wisdom from somebody who's lived the life. Good on him for sharing.

[JenniferEccles]

07:15 AM on 05/10/2011

When did "good for him" become "good on him"?

[Cye]

03:08 AM on 05/11/2011

Its an Aussie expression, that orignated well before my time. It kind of means, "Its very good of you to do such and such".

For example, "Good on you for driving Bob to school, that was really helpful", or "Good on ya for sharing that bit of personal information"

That what I meant by saying "Good on him for sharing". It an expression that has such wide usage here that I didn't think anything of using it.