Drew Pinsky is hosting a new reality show on VH1 called "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew," which follows B-list stars like Brigitte Nielsen, Daniel Baldwin, pro wrestler Chyna, and former American Idol finalist Jessica Sierra as they battle addiction, the Los Angeles Times reported Jan.

The show, which premiers Thursday at 10 p.m., filmed the experiences of the "stars" as they attended a Pasadena, Calif., residential treatment program. The eight episodes show patients going through withdrawal, attending group therapy, and more. The decision to allow cameras into treatment also raised a storm of controversy because of concerns that the show violated the tradition of anonymity in treatment.

"I wasn't clear this was a good idea," said Pinsky, head of the Department of Chemical Dependency Services at Pasadena's Las Encinas Hospital. "It sounds exploitive; it certainly could have been, but for the grace of God, I don't think it was ... Ultimately, I was responsible for treatment, not a good TV show."

Pinsky and VH1 officials maintain that the show can help break down misconceptions about treatment. "I really wanted to show people what it truly was and how important and helpful it is when it is done well," said Pinsky. "Treatment is not a car wash that you go in one side and come out the other. It's a long, long process. Addiction is much closer to diabetes or asthma than a skin infection. It recurs. It relapses and you have to get tuned up and re-treated. And then, it's only in remission."

"There have been complaints that reality television isn't real. Well, 'Celebrity Rehab' is about as real as it gets," said Michael Hirschorn, executive vice president for original programming and production at VH1. "I just don't think you can watch this show and say, 'Man, it would be cool to be a drug addict.' This is about as scared straight as you're going to get."

As for the show's focus on celebrities, Pinsky said, "The celebrity element is a necessary element, at least in this stage and until people understand what this is all about. As people watch the show and see how many of these people go from celebrities to human beings, my hope is we'll stop and think about the mud we sling at the Britney, Lindsay or Paris."