Canadian TV Show "Living Clean" To Focus On Addictions

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Starting June 5th, 2005, residents all over Canada will be able to see a WEEKLY show focusing on addictions of all types, including Compulsive Gambling.

Glenn Allan, host and executive producer of popular CTS television show GoodNews Sports and Gabe Macaluso, former CEO of Hamilton Entertainment and Convention Facilities will host a late night television talk show designed to assist individuals suffering with addiction.

Taped live, Living Clean starts this Sunday and will run weekly from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on CTS TV. It will be broadcast to 3.8 million households or 85 per cent of Ontario's population in Toronto/Hamilton, Kitchener/London and Ottawa.

An additional 2 million homes across Canada will receive Living Clean through Bell Express Vu (channel 651), Star Choice (channel 355) and Look TV (channel 19) DTH satellite services.

The program will aim to educate and arm adults and youth with real facts and solutions about addiction.

Living Clean will offer choices and encouragement to the addict and their families through sharing of experience, strength and hope.

Mr. Allan is the second youngest of five children born in Hamilton and raised in Stoney Creek.

A hockey/baseball coach sexually abused him over an eight-year span, beginning at the age of seven. As with most victims of sexual abuse, Mr. Allan hid his secret for many years, or so he thought. This secret manifested itself through shame-based attitudes and behaviours, which led him to alcoholism, a cocaine addiction and finally suicide attempts.

Mr. Macaluso is a pathological gambler in recovery and gives his time to others with this insidious disease.

I look forward to some reviews of this show. I have often thought there is an audience for a show of this type hosted BY people in recovery. Many of the daytime talk show hosts attempt at discussing addiction, but seem to often fall short of one side or the other. Either they focus on the titilation of the pain and loss of the addicted, failing to focus enough time on possible solutions, OR they focus entirely on the solution making people watching feel the problem is not real. I hope this show succeeds and similar ones are started in other parts of the world.

John