Original subtitles

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

**

Steven: NO ONE CAN HANDLE MY WEIGHT.

SO MY DAD HAS BEEN TRYING TO MAKE THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ME

TO GO OUT TO HOUSTON AND SEE DR. NOWZARADAN.

MY SON STEVEN IS GONNA BE TRANSPORTED IN A MEDICAL R.V.

TO HOUSTON, AND I'M GONNA FOLLOW HIM.

AND MY SON JUSTIN WANTS TO COME WITH ME.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

I WANT TO MEET THE DOCTOR, AS WELL,

BECAUSE I WANT HELP WITH MY WEIGHT, TOO.

Dr. Nowzaradan: FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND,

STEVEN ASSANTI SUFFERS FROM SEVERE PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES

SO HE'S GOING TO BE A UNIQUE CASE.

THIS LOOKS REALLY YUMMY!

Steven Sr.: GOING TO HOUSTON

WILL BE STEVEN'S LAST CHANCE IN GETTING HIS HELP,

AND I HOPE HE STICKS WITH IT 'CAUSE HIS LIFE DEPENDS ON IT.

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ] [ GROANS ] OH, GOD.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

WE NEED TO STOP SOON. I AM HUNG-A-RY.

I am feeling very weak.

AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME, YOU'RE GONNA BE VERY SORRY.

IT SOUNDS LIKE A PERFECT STORM OF DYSFUNCTION IS COMING,

AND WE MAY BE FACING THE HARDEST CHALLENGE YET

WITH THE ASSANTIS.

STEVE. -HI.

-I'M DR. NOWZARADAN. -HI. HOW ARE YOU?

OKAY. LET'S GET YOU IN AND CHECK YOU OUT.

**

Steven: I'M IN A LOT OF PAIN,

AND I CAN REALLY USE SOME PAIN MEDICINE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: STEVEN IS CASUALLY ASKING FOR SOME PAIN MEDICATION,

BUT HIS BODY LANGUAGE SHOWS THAT HE REALLY WANTS IT.

THIS IS DILAUDID...

YEAH. ...THE PAIN MEDICINES.

HAVE YOU HAD THIS BEFORE? YEAH.

Dr. Nowzaradan: SO WE ARE DEALING WITH

A VERY ADDICTIVE AND PATHOLOGICAL PERSONALITY HERE.

HOPEFULLY, HIS BROTHER, JUSTIN, IS NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME WAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: JUSTIN, I HEAR FROM YOUR FATHER

THAT YOU NO LONGER ARE INTERESTED IN ANY HELP.

HE'S LOOKING AT US THROUGH THE CAMERA.

SO, WE'LL GET THE ECHOCARDIOGRAM

AND SEE WHAT HIS HEART IS DOING.

Steven Sr.: YEAH. AND THEN HE CAN GO HOME.

JUST GET HIM -- MY OTHER ONE -- DOWN TO 250.

Steven Sr.: SAY "BYE" TO YOUR BROTHER.

BYE.

BYE.

Justin: I JUST WANT TO GET AS FAR AWAY FROM HIM

AS POSSIBLE RIGHT NOW.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan: THIS WHOLE FAMILY IS

IN A DOWNWARD DEATH SPIRAL TOGETHER.

SO I HOPE THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ALL RIGHT. I'M GONNA CHECK YOUR WEIGHT

730.

OKAY, STEVEN, WE'RE GOING TO START YOU

ON A CONTROLLED DIET HERE IN THE HOSPITAL.

Steven: BUT I'M NOT GONNA LIE --

IF SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BROUGHT ME SOME FAST FOOD OR SOMETHING,

I'D PROBABLY EAT IT...

BECAUSE I'M A FAST-FOOD JUNKIE.

ALL RIGHT, STEVEN, LET'S CHECK YOUR WEIGHT.

YOU LOST OVER 100 POUNDS IN TWO MONTHS.

THAT'S REALLY GOOD, HUH?

I NEED SOMEBODY IN MY ROOM IMMEDIATELY.

I HAVE BEEN WAITING.

I WANT THIS LIGHT OFF.

Steven: IT'S RIDICULOUS WHAT I HAVE TO DO

TO GET PEOPLE TO RESPOND AROUND HERE.

I'M NOT TRYING TO BE MEAN. TRUST ME -- I'M NOT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE'RE STARTING TO DEVELOP SOME ISSUES WITH STEVEN.

A LOT OF HIS PATHOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR

HAS STARTED TO COME OUT.

STEVEN. -HEY.

-HOW ARE YOU TODAY? -OKAY.

SO, YOU SEEM LIKE YOU HAVE AN ISSUE

GETTING ALONG WITH HOSPITAL STAFF,

AND I DON'T WANT TO HEAR OF THIS AGAIN.

YES.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANY PATIENT LIKE STEVEN.

HE'S ASKING FOR PAIN MEDICINE EVERY 15 MINUTES,

AND THEN HE SPILLED URINE ON THE FLOOR.

I'M JUST REALLY UPSET, OKAY?

YOU'RE DONE HERE.

I'VE BEEN DOING GOOD AND EVERYTHING. PLEASE.

UNLESS YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY,

YOU WILL NOT BE ADMITTED BACK.

[ Voice breaking ] PLEASE. I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: STEVEN WILL CRY AND HE'LL BEG,

BUT THE REALITY IS,

HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT CHANGING.

-HELLO. -Steven has been misbehaving.

DR. NOWZARADAN: If you want him to stay

in the program in Houston,

then you need to get him set up at a residence of his own.

Steven Sr.: I'LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH --

I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS GONNA TURN OUT.

EITHER HE WANTS TO LIVE, OR HE DON'T WANT TO LIVE.

ALL RIGHT, DAD. I WANT PIZZA.

OH, MY GOD.

IT'S THE ONLY TIME I WANT TO HAVE IT, SO...

WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT?

JUST A LARGE PIZZA WITH CHEESE AND PEPPERONI

AND A 2-LITER BOTTLE OF COKE.

THERE. YOU HAPPY? YEP.

-HAVE A PARTY. -I WILL.

I KNOW YOU WILL.

I'VE HAD A PERSONAL-CARE ASSISTANT HELP TAKE CARE OF ME,

AND I LIKE PRINCESS SO FAR.

SHE COMES OVER AND BATHES ME, PREPARES FOOD FOR ME,

AND SHE MAKES SURE I'M DOING OKAY.

TODAY, I'M GOING BACK TO SEE DR. NOWZARADAN.

BUT I'M NERVOUS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I WEIGH.

**

THAT IS NOT GOOD.

STEVEN.

YOU MANAGED TO GAIN 80 POUNDS.

SO, IF THIS IS NOT WORKING FOR YOU,

I'M NOT GONNA BE THE ONE TO WRITE YOUR DEATH CERTIFICATE.

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: JUSTIN HAS BEEN REFUSING TREATMENT SO FAR,

AND HIS FATHER HAS NOT GIVEN ME AN UPDATE ON HIS WEIGHT,

WHICH MEANS THIS IS NOT IMPORTANT FOR THEM.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

STEVEN IS ABUSING THE SYSTEM TO GET PAINKILLERS.

AND THAT BEHAVIOR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW HIS ADDICTION TO PAIN MEDICATION

IS GOING TO KILL HIM BEFORE HIS OVEREATING DOES.

STEVEN, YOU'RE LYING ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING,

SO, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

I'M SUSPENDING YOU FROM THE WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAM,

AND YOU'RE GOING FROM HERE TO A DRUG-ADDICTION PROGRAM

BECAUSE, RIGHT NOW,

THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO TO WAKE YOU UP.

I WISH YOU THE BEST.

THANK YOU.

**

I'M CURRENTLY ON MY WAY

TO THE COUNCIL ON RECOVERY IN HOUSTON.

DR. NOWZARADAN HAS ADVISED ME TO BE ADMITTED

TO THEIR REHAB PROGRAM.

SO I'M GONNA BE EVALUATED FOR THAT.

AND I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

I KNOW DR. NOW IS RIGHT.

AND I'VE BEEN ABUSING PAINKILLERS

TO THE POINT THAT I'VE BEEN RISKING MY LIFE EVERY DAY.

BUT EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THAT, I STILL WANT THEM.

IF I GET THE URGE OF WANTING A NARCOTIC AGAIN

AND WANTING TO GET HIGH,

I WILL GO BACK TO THE HOSPITAL

AND TRY TO CON ANOTHER DOCTOR.

AND I'M GOOD AT GETTING WHAT I WANT.

BUT I'M DOING TOO MUCH DAMAGE TO MY BODY,

AND IF IT'S NOT GONNA BE THE WEIGHT THAT'S GONNA KILL ME,

IT'S GONNA BE THE DRUGS.

SOMEONE HAS TO HELP ME STOP.

AAH! -YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING?

WE ARE GOING IN THE GATES OF THE DRUG COUNCIL

AND REHAB PLACE TO GO SEE THE DOCTOR.

-THESE GATES? -YES, THOSE GATES --

THE GATES OF HELL.

[ GRUNTS ]

I'M HOPING THAT THIS IS THE DAY MY LIFE TURNS AROUND.

SELFIE.

I WANT TO GET BETTER.

AND I'M HOPING I ACTUALLY GET HELP HERE.

BUT THIS IS STILL ONE OF THE SCARIEST THINGS

THAT I'VE EVER DONE.

THANK YOU.

HELLO, EVERYONE. I'M STEVEN.

-HOW ARE YOU? -GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

-GOOD TO SEE YOU. -THANK YOU.

-THANKS FOR COMING IN TODAY. -YOU, TOO.

Dr. Flowers: SO, WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY?

OH, WELL, UH, I'M ADDICTED TO PAIN MEDICINE.

OKAY, HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON?

-YEARS. -YEAH?

EVER SINCE MY GALLBLADDER SURGERY

WHEN I WAS, LIKE, 25.

THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I EVER GOT ADMITTED

TO ANY HOSPITAL BEFORE.

AND THAT'S WHEN I FIRST GOT PAIN MEDICINE

AND I REALIZED HOW GOOD IT FEELS

AND HOW MUCH I WANTED MORE.

SURE.

SO, IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE.

AND NOW I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGHT THE URGE

OF GOING BACK TO, LIKE, AN E.R. FOR MORE.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO END UP LIKE ALL THESE CELEBRITIES,

LIKE PRINCE AND STUFF.

-MM-HMM. -I DON'T WANT TO BE, LIKE,

THE NEXT PERSON TO DIE.

BUT I DON'T GET MY DRUGS ILLEGALLY.

-RIGHT, THEY'RE ALL PRESCRIBED. -IT'S LEGAL. CORRECT.

Dr. Flowers: SO, YOU UNDERSTAND, JUST BECAUSE

A PHYSICIAN PRESCRIBES SOMETHING --

DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE NOT AN ADDICT.

-THAT'S RIGHT. -RIGHT.

SO, MOST OF YOUR USE HAS BEEN INTRAVENOUS

AT A FACILITY. -CORRECT.

I JUST CALL

A NON-EMERGENCY AMBULANCE MAYBE 10 TIMES,

15 TIMES A MONTH,

AND THE HOSPITALS CAN'T TURN ME AWAY

BECAUSE WHAT I USE FOR EXCUSE IS MY RIGHT LEG.

SO, AS LONG AS I'D TELL THEM MY PAIN WAS OVER AN EIGHT

ON A SCALE OF ONE TO 10, THEN THEY HAVE TO TREAT ME.

AND WHEN THEY GIVE THE INJECTION

THROUGH THE I.V., LIKE, I'M ON ANOTHER PLANET.

IT JUST KIND OF TAKES YOUR FEELINGS AWAY.

-YEAH, IT NUMBS EVERYTHING. -YEAH. MM-HMM.

-NOT HAVE TO WORRY. -YEAH. NO WORRY.

AND THEY MAYBE WOULD OR WOULDN'T GIVE YOU

A PRESCRIPTION FOR CONTINUED PAIN MEDICATION.

-CORRECT. -HOW MANY TABLETS

WOULD YOU BE GIVEN?

120, 7.5 MILLIGRAMS.

SO, YOU'D GO HOME.

A DAY OR TWO LATER, YOU'D CALL

AND GO TO THE SAME FACILITY OR WHAT?

I DON'T GO TO THE SAME FACILITY, NO,

'CAUSE THEY ALREADY KNOW WHO I AM.

AND I HAD TO GO TO A NEW PLACE EACH TIME.

WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU WENT TO AN E.R.?

-MAYBE A COUPLE DAYS AGO. -OKAY.

SO, YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH DETOX SYMPTOMS BEFORE

IN BETWEEN GETTING TO THE E.R.?

I MEAN, TELL ME ABOUT THAT. -YOU MEAN WHEN YOU'RE NOT

ON THE OPIATES FOR A WHILE OR WHATEVER?

YEAH, OF COURSE.

YOU JUST FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GONNA DIE.

Dr. Flowers: AND HOW ARE YOU FEELING NOW

SINCE IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF DAYS?

I FEEL OKAY, BUT I-I -- MY BRAIN'S STILL, LIKE,

TELLING ME, "GO BACK FOR MORE."

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT THAT YOU'RE A DRUG ADDICT.

YEAH, I AM.

AND YOU NEED TREATMENT FOR THAT.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ASSESS HERE

IS WHETHER YOU NEED MEDICAL DETOX...

-MM-HMM. -...AND HOW MUCH OF IT YOU NEED.

RIGHT. YEAH.

SO, TELL ME ABOUT DEPRESSION.

I DON'T THINK I'M DEPRESSED.

-NO DEPRESSION AT ALL? -I DON'T FEEL DEPRESSED, NO.

I REALLY AM, FOR THE MOST PART,

A PRETTY HAPPY GUY.

YOU SAY YOU'RE HAPPY.

THIS ISN'T WHAT A HAPPY PERSON DOES TO THEMSELVES.

YEAH.

AS AN ADDICT, THE WAY YOU'VE BEEN DOING THINGS

REALLY ISN'T WORKING.

AND ONE THING WE WANT TO MAKE SURE

BEFORE WE HELP YOU IS THAT WE GET A COMMITMENT FROM YOU

THAT YOU'RE GONNA GO THROUGH AND FOLLOW THROUGH

WITH OUR PROGRAM AND PARTICIPATE.

SO, OUR PROGRAM STARTS OFF WITH DETOX.

YOU WOULD THEN BE DOING INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS

WITH OUR THERAPIST

BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WITH ADDICTS,

THERE'S CORE TRAUMA AND THINGS UNDERNEATH

THAT WE'RE NOT -- YOU'RE NOT ADDRESSING --

BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GETTING BETTER RIGHT NOW.

AND SO IF WE DON'T ADDRESS THOSE THINGS...

-YEAH. -...YOU'RE GONNA STAY

IN THE SAME CYCLE, AND IT'S JUST A BRUTAL CYCLE TO BE IN,

AS YOU KNOW.

SO, YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO TALK AND DO THE WORK

BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA DIE. -YEAH, I KNOW.

AND THERE'S NO USE IN CONTINUING DOWN THIS PATH

UNLESS YOU JUST WANT TO DIE.

ST. JOSEPH HOSPITAL -- THEY'VE ACCEPTED YOU.

THEY'RE WILLING TO TAKE YOU IF YOU'RE WILLING TO GO.

HOW LONG IS THE STAY?

SO, WE DON'T KNOW.

IT COULD BE 3 DAYS, AND IT COULD BE 10 DAYS.

YOU NEED 24-HOUR MEDICAL MONITORING

TO GET YOU THROUGH THIS DETOX.

IT'S NOT LOCKDOWN OR ANYTHING, RIGHT?

-YES. -IT'S THE PSYCH FLOOR.

Dr. Flowers: IT'S THE MED/PSYCH FLOOR, BUT IT IS A TRUE MEDICAL DETOX.

AM I ALLOWED TO HAVE A PHONE?

PROBABLY NOT.

DO THEY HAVE INTERNET ACCESS

AT ST. JOSEPH'S? -I DON'T KNOW.

CAN YOU FIND OUT?

THAT'S A SECONDARY CONCERN RIGHT NOW.

UH, NOT FOR ME.

I MEAN, I NEED TO CONTACT MY PEOPLE.

ARE YOU ALLOWED TO HAVE YOUR iPAD?

Dr. Flowers: YOUR iPAD AND YOUR iPHONE

AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT

SHOULD BE SECONDARY RIGHT NOW TO YOU.

NO, I DON'T WANT TO BE BORED, EITHER.

OH, YOU WON'T BE BORED.

YOU'RE GONNA BE BUSY GETTING BETTER.

RIGHT NOW, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS

IS SAVING YOUR LIFE, AND THIS IS SAVING YOUR LIFE.

YOU REALLY NEED TO WORK ON YOU.

THAT -- WELL, YEAH, I'M GONNA DO THAT, TOO.

Dr. D'Aunno: YOU DON'T DICTATE YOUR DETOX, OKAY?

THE PROFESSIONALS DICTATE YOUR TREATMENT AND YOUR DETOX.

YOU DO NOT.

THIS GAME ISN'T GONNA LAST VERY MUCH LONGER.

SO, YOU NEED TO GO TO TREATMENT, AND YOU NEED TO DETOX.

-ALL RIGHT, I'LL GO. -OKAY.

GOOD.

THAT'S THE BEST THING FOR -- CONGRATULATIONS.

THAT'S THE BEST THING FOR YOU.

-THANKS. -YEAH.

Dr. Flowers: SO, I SEE A LITTLE BIT OF SADNESS IN YOUR EYES.

WHAT'S GOING ON? -[ LAUGHS ]

Green: IT'S A LITTLE SCARY, BUT IT'S OKAY.

YEAH.

YOU READY TO DO THIS?

OKAY. -OKAY.

-OKAY. -YEAH.

Dr. Flowers: STEVEN'S PROBLEM IS EXTENSIVE.

HE CAN'T HELP BUT BE IN THIS MUCH PAIN

BECAUSE OF HIS WEIGHT.

AND HE ADMITTED THAT HE DOES TAKE OPIATES

BECAUSE IT NUMBS HIS FEELINGS.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO FEEL.

STEVEN WAS AS HONEST AS HE COULD BE,

BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF TRAUMA

THAT HE'S NOT TALKING ABOUT.

AND IF THAT TRAUMA ISN'T ADDRESSED IN TREATMENT,

THEN IT'S NOT GONNA RESOLVE.

GASTRIC BYPASS OR A SLEEVE IS NOT THE ANSWER.

THE ANSWER IS GOING THROUGH DETOX,

THEN GOING THROUGH A TREATMENT PROGRAM

AND REMAINING FOR LIFE IN LONG-TERM THERAPY.

SO, GOOD LUCK. ALL RIGHT. -THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU'RE WELCOME. TAKE CARE. -THANK YOU.

UNFORTUNATELY, PAST FAILURE FOR STEVEN

IS A BIG CONCERN MOVING FORWARD.

ALL RIGHT, SEE YOU SOON.

YEAH, SEE YOU SOON. SEE YOU BOTH SOON.

THANK YOU. -STEVEN HAS GOT

TO BUY INTO THIS.

HE'S GOT TO REALIZE THAT, "IF I DON'T COMPLETE THIS TIME,

I'M GONNA DIE."

AND IF HE DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT,

THEN HE'S GONNA FAIL.

GOT TO PUT IT ON SPEAKERPHONE.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ] THANK YOU, HONEY.

[ DOOR CLOSES ]

STEVEN SR.: Hello. I GOT TO LEAVE SOON.

I FIGURED I'D GIVE YOU A QUICK CALL

AND LET YOU KNOW I'M GONNA BE AT THE HOSPITAL

IN THE PSYCH-WARD SECTION.

SO, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GONNA ALLOW ME

TO HAVE MY TABLET OR NOT.

Okay, well, this is a good thing,

and you need to do this, Steven.

You're running out of chances.

[ Voice breaking ] YEAH.

JUST A LITTLE NERVOUS.

Why are you nervous?

There is no place better for you to be on this planet

than where you're going.

I KNOW I HAVE TO LOOK AT IT THAT WAY, RIGHT?

It's one of the only places

where you can't keep killing yourself

like you have been.

OKAY. Trust me.

This is a very good place you're going, Steven.

I TRUST YOU. I KNOW. OKAY.

[ SNIFFLES ]

All right. Bye.

**

Steven: I'M SO SCARED RIGHT NOW.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT OR HOW HARD THIS IS GONNA BE.

BUT I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

EITHER I DO THIS, OR I'M GONNA DIE.

**

Steven: I'M STARTING MY DETOX NOW,

AND I'M IN A DAZE.

**

I'M JUST TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND

WHAT I'M ABOUT TO GO THROUGH MENTALLY

AND PHYSICALLY AS I START THE WITHDRAWAL PROCESS.

I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS AT ALL.

BUT I KNOW IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

**

MY FIRST DAY IN DETOX, AND THIS IS MY ROOM.

AND THAT'S THE DOOR I CAME THROUGH.

GIVE YOU A LITTLE TOUR HERE.

THAT'S THE LIGHT, THE CHAIRS. THEY'RE VERY SMALL.

MAYBE ONE DAY I CAN FIT IN CHAIRS LIKE THAT.

IT WOULD BE NICE.

AND UP HERE IS WHERE THE CAMERAS ARE.

AND THAT LOOKS AT ME ALL DAY LONG.

SO, I'M FEELING QUITE TIRED RIGHT NOW

'CAUSE WE HAD A LONG DAY TODAY.

I'M HOPING I CAN GET THROUGH THE FIRE

AND BEAT THIS AND LEARN A LOT AND RECOVER.

OTHERWISE, THINGS COULD GET WORSE, AND I CAN DIE.

SO, I GOT TO FOCUS ON THE NOW,

AND THE NOW IS,

"AM I GONNA RECOVER OR NOT?

OR AM I GONNA GIVE UP AND GO HOME?"

I FEEL LIKE I HAVE THE STRENGTH TO DO THAT, BUT NOTHING'S EASY.

**

THIS IS DAY 2 IN THE PSYCH WARD, DRUG REHAB IN THE HOSPITAL.

PRETTY BAD NIGHT --

THEY KEPT COMING IN MY F'ing ROOM

EVERY 15 F'ing MINUTES.

I SWEAR I TURNED INTO THE SPAWN OF SATAN.

I DON'T FEEL NORMAL

WHEN I'M NOT ON VICODIN, DILAUDID, OR ANYTHING.

JUST STARTED MY SUBOXONE TREATMENT.

SO, THAT'S SUPPOSED TO WEAN ME

OFF THE REALLY HARD-CORE PAIN MEDICINE.

BUT WHAT I'M NOTICING WITH THE SUBOXONE

IS THAT I FEEL NORMAL EVEN ON THAT.

SO FAR, SO GOOD. YEAH.

CROSSING MY FAT FINGERS.

**

Justin: I FEEL THINGS HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR ME FOR THE PAST MONTH.

AND I'M STILL GLAD STEVEN IS GONE.

WHEN STEVEN WAS HERE, HE ALWAYS JUST PUT ME DOWN,

AND ALL THE ATTENTION WENT TO HIM CONSTANTLY.

SO, NOW I'VE STARTED TO FIGURE OUT

WHAT I WANT TO DO IN LIFE.

AND I'VE DECIDED TO OPEN A HOBBY SHOP.

AND MY DAD IS GONNA HELP ME DO IT.

MY SON STARTED GETTING INTO BUILDING MODELS.

AND HE FIGURES HE CAN MAKE MONEY.

AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING

THAT HE WANTS TO START THIS STORE OF HIS

SO HE CAN GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.

HE WAS REALLY RECLUSIVE FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS,

WOULD HARDLY LEAVE HIS ROOM,

AND HE NEEDS TO GET OUT IN THE WORLD.

SO, HOPEFULLY JUSTIN CAN TAKE THIS CHANCE

TO START HIS OWN THING.

I FEEL LIKE JUSTIN'S DOING A LOT BETTER

NOW THAT HE'S AWAY FROM HIS BROTHER.

I'M HAPPY STEVEN'S IN REHAB RIGHT NOW,

AND I REALLY HOPE THIS TURNS THINGS AROUND FOR HIM.

BUT HE'S THE MOST STUBBORN PERSON I EVER KNOWN.

SO, I JUST HOPE THEY CAN BREAK HIM

BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO.

Justin: WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON,

I REALLY HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO FOCUS MUCH ON MY DIET...

BECAUSE I HAVE TO FOCUS ON MY WORK

AND SETTING UP MY STORE RIGHT NOW.

AND I DON'T THINK I'VE GAINED ANY MORE,

WHICH MEANS MY WEIGHT IS DOING OKAY.

I'M NOT GETTING BIGGER,

AND I CAN STAY MOBILE AND STILL GET AROUND.

BECAUSE MY GOAL IS TO NOT END UP LIKE STEVEN.

I KNOW DR. NOWZARADAN WANTS ME TO COME BACK FOR A CHECKUP

TO SEE WHAT MY WEIGHT IS AND HOW I'M DOING.

BUT RIGHT NOW I NEED TO FOCUS ON GETTING MY LIFE BACK TOGETHER.

I DON'T WANT THIS. HERE, ROCKY, YOU CAN HAVE IT.

GIVE IT TO HIM. LET HIM FINISH IT.

THERE'S ONLY A COUPLE PIECES LEFT.

Justin: SO, I'LL GET BACK TO DR. NOWZARADAN

AND HIS DIET... -GOOD BOY.

Justin: ...BUT NOT RIGHT NOW.

**

Steven: Okay?

Steven Sr.: Steven, calm down.

You have to calm down.

Stop acting like this.

I'm gonna hang up if you don't calm down.

Freak out all you want.

You're not getting any more drugs.

[ Sobs ]

**

Steven: I'M FINALLY BEING RELEASED FROM THE DETOX PROGRAM.

I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A WEEK.

AND THEY SAY NOW THE DRUGS ARE OUT OF MY SYSTEM

AND I'M FREE TO GO HOME.

THIS IS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I'VE EVER DONE.

THERE WERE MOMENTS WHEN I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DIE.

I NEVER WANT TO GO THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THAT AGAIN,

AND I'M JUST GLAD IT'S FINALLY OVER.

AND HOPEFULLY I CAN START LOOKING TO A BETTER FUTURE.

AND I'M SUPPOSED TO STAY ON MY DETOX DRUG

SO THAT THE WITHDRAWAL DOESN'T START UP

WHEN I'M AT HOME.

I WANT TO BE DRUG [BLEEP] FREE.

* I WENT -- I WENT DRUG FREE *

* I WENT DRUG -- I WENT FREE *

PRINCESS HAS ALREADY PICKED UP MY CURRENT PRESCRIPTION

AND SAID IT'LL BE AT MY APARTMENT WAITING FOR ME.

SO, I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT URGES

THAT WILL TEMPT ME TO TRY TO GET BACK ON PAIN MEDS.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING HOME FINALLY.

I WAS REALLY WORRIED, TOO,

BECAUSE I GOT A CAT TO KEEP ME COMPANY

RIGHT BEFORE I WENT TO THE CLINIC

TO SEE DR. NOW, AND THEN I ENDED UP IN REHAB.

SO, PRINCESS HAS BEEN TAKING CARE OF HER.

**

[ SIGHS ]

THERE'S NO SUBOXONE HERE WHATSOEVER.

[ CAT MEOWS ]

**

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.

PRINCESS DIDN'T DROP IT OFF LIKE SHE SAID.

HOW DOES ANYONE EXPECT ME TO DO THIS

IF I DON'T HAVE WHAT I NEED?

I'M GONNA TELL HER JUST HOW UNACCEPTABLE THIS IS

AND HOW DISAPPOINTED I AM

AND FIND OUT WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON.

PRINCESS IS TELLING ME NOW, "THE MEDICINE'S NOT READY.

THEY NEED YOUR INSURANCE INFORMATION.

RIGHT NOW YOU ARE LOOKING AT $150 TOTAL."

FIRST THING, I'LL TRY TO ASK DAD AND SEE IF HE HAS $150.

[ CHUCKLES ] THAT'S GONNA BE HIGHLY DOUBTFUL.

Steven: HELLO?

YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH, OKAY,

IN THAT PSYCH WARD.

HUH?

WELL, YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ME,

AND YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ME [BLEEP] NOW!

AND YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ME LOUD AND [BLEEP] CLEAR!

OKAY?

CLEAN OUT YOUR [BLEEP] EARS AND CLEAN THEM OUT GOOD!

I NEED $150 TO FILL MY TREATMENT MEDICINE.

DO YOU GOT POTATOES IN YOUR [BLEEP] EARS?

I WILL RELAPSE

IF I DON'T HAVE THAT MEDICINE HERE!

IS IT GOING OVER YOUR HEAD, WHAT I'M TELLING YOU?

THE INSURANCE IS NOT COVERING MY [BLEEP] TREATMENT MEDICINE

FOR SOME REASON THIS MONTH, OKAY?

GOODBYE, FATHER.

GOODBYE.

[ RECEIVER CLICKS ]

IF MY DAD OR PRINCESS

DOESN'T GET MY PRESCRIPTION TO ME NOW

AND I END UP BACK ON PAIN MEDS,

IT'S BECAUSE OF THEM.

AND THEN, WHEN I OVERDOSE, IT'S GONNA BE THEIR FAULT.

OH, THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS

WHEN YOU JUST WISH YOU WERE DEAD,

LIKE, AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME RIGHT NOW.

RIGHT NOW, SON.

[ SIGHS ]

**

Steven: IT'S BEEN A HARD MONTH.

I'VE BEEN STAYING ON MY PRESCRIPTION

TO FIGHT THE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS,

BUT IT'S STILL BEEN REALLY HARD

BECAUSE I HAVE MY MOMENTS

WHERE I WANT SOMETHING REALLY STRONG.

AND I'M HAVING A HARD TIME RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I LOST MY TEMPER AT PRINCESS AGAIN

WHEN SHE WAS TAKING A WHILE TO GET MY PRESCRIPTION.

AND SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS GONNA RESIGN

AS MY PERSONAL-CARE ASSISTANT.

SO, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GONNA GET MY PRESCRIPTION FOR ME NOW

AND TAKE CARE OF ME.

SHE'S COMING OVER RIGHT NOW, THOUGH, FOR HER LAST VISIT.

SHE ALSO SAID SHE'S GONNA TAKE BACK MY TV SET

SINCE IT BELONGS TO THE HEALTHCARE COMPANY

AND THAT THEY LENT IT TO ME,

BUT I'M NOT LETTING HER DO THAT.

SHE CAN DROP OFF THE PILLS, GET ME SOMETHING TO EAT, AND GO.

I'M SICK OF HER ANYWAY.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ] COME IN.

OKAY, ASSANTI, I PICKED UP SOME LAST-MINUTE STUFF FOR YOU.

AFTER DETOX, STEVEN IS STILL UP TO HIS OLD WAYS.

WHATEVER MEDICINE THE REHAB DOCTOR PUT HIM ON,

HE LOVES IT.

AND I JUST GOT HIM A SCRIP FOR 120 PILLS,

AND I THINK THEY'RE ALL GONE.

HIS MOOD SWINGS ARE WORSE THAN EVER,

AND HIS BEHAVIOR IS PARTICULAR UNACCEPTABLE TOWARDS ME,

SO I'M NO LONGER GOING TO BE TREATING HIM AFTER TODAY.

TWO WEEKS WORTH OF FOOD YOU'LL GO THROUGH IN TWO DAYS.

NOBODY'S GONNA BE HERE TO CHECK AND MAKE SURE

YOU'RE TAKING IT IN PORTION.

THAT'S GONNA BE UP TO ME NOW.

IT IS.

Princess: RIGHT NOW, STEVEN IS NOT STICKING TO HIS DIET.

I'M TAKING OUT PIZZA BOXES, COOKIE BOXES, BROWNIE BOXES,

AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HIS DAD ORDERS HIM.

HE'S NOT WORKING ON CHANGES RIGHT NOW.

HE'S JUST TRANSFERRING HIS ADDICTION

TO HIS NEW PRESCRIPTION, AND HE'S ABUSING IT.

SO, THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO WITH THAT.

I'VE BEEN VERY PATIENT WITH HIM,

BUT STEVEN REFUSES TO LISTEN TO ME.

SO I JUST CANNOT WORK LIKE THAT.

Princess: OKAY, I'M GOING TO GET YOUR LAUNDRY.

I'LL BE BACK. I'M GONNA GET YOUR LAUNDRY.

ALL RIGHT.

Steven: I NEED A POLICE OFFICER HERE IMMEDIATELY, PLEASE.

MY PERSONAL-CARE ATTENDANT HERE BOUGHT ME A TV, OKAY?

SHE BOUGHT IT AS A GIFT FOR ME,

AND NOW SHE'S TRYING TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME.

SHE'S MAD THAT SHE'S LOSING HER JOB.

IT AIN'T MY PROBLEM SHE DIDN'T DO HER [BLEEP] JOB.

STEVEN ASSANTI.

Steven: THANK YOU.

[ DOOR HANDLE RATTLES ]

WHO IS IT? -ME.

I'M INSTRUCTED NOT TO LET YOU IN YET,

UNTIL THE POLICE GET HERE. -TILL THE POLICE GET HERE?

YEAH, PRINCESS IS TRYING TO GET IN THE HOUSE.

WHAT DO I DO?

WHAT?!

THE TV IS NOT BEING TAKEN OUT UNTIL WE SEE THE PROOF.

OKAY, WELL, NO PROBLEM. I'LL WAIT TILL THEY GET HERE.

YOU WANT TO WAIT?

OF COURSE, 'CAUSE THAT TV COMING WITH ME.

THE TV AIN'T GOING NOWHERE. IT WAS A GIFT.

-IT WAS A LOANER. -IT WAS A GIFT.

Princess: I'M GONNA CALL ANOTHER CAREGIVER

AND HAVE THEM DEAL WITH YOU.

WE WANT TO SEE THE PROOF! THAT'S ALL, BABY DOLL!

GROW UP -- YOU AND YOUR DAD. HOW ABOUT THAT?

HONESTLY, I BELIEVE THAT STEVEN PITCHED A FIT

ABOUT THE TELEVISION BECAUSE HE DON'T WANT TO SEE ME GO.

AND HE HAVE EXPRESSED THAT IN TEXT MESSAGES AND E-MAILS.

IT'S NOT OPEN. -I NEED MY FOOD-STAMP CARD,

AND I WANT YOU GONE.

YOU CAN TAKE YOUR [BLEEP] TV.

IT AIN'T EVEN YOURS, ANYWAY. -IT SURE AIN'T.

IT'S THE COMPANY'S, SO...

[ DEAD BOLT CLICKS ] COME IN.

-[ SIGHS ] -TAKE THE GIFT.

Steven: HOW ABOUT YOU JUST DO WHAT I SAY

AND GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HAIR?

Princess: WELL, I THOUGHT YOU CALLED THE POLICE.

I DID CALL THE POLICE.

SO NOW I GOT TO STAY HERE ANYWAY 'CAUSE THEY'RE COMING.

SO, ARE YOU GONNA PUT YOUR CLOTHES UP,

OR YOU WANT ME TO?

[ SIGHS ] HUH, ASSANTI?

IF YOU'RE GONNA RELEASE ME, THEN I CAN GO,

BUT IF YOU DON'T WANT ME TO HELP YOU OR ASSIST YOU

OR NOTHING -- -I AM CALLING THE POLICE BACK!

HOLD ON!

HELLO.

I'M TRYING TO CALL THE POLICE AND CANCEL MY CALL.

YEAH, THEY TOOK BACK THE GIFT. I DON'T GIVE A [BLEEP]

MY FEARS FOR STEVEN IS THAT HE'S NOT GONNA GET ANY BETTER.

HE'S GONNA GET WORSE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PILLS,

'CAUSE HE'S NOT MANAGING

HOW MUCH IS IN HIS SYSTEM AT ONE TIME.

IT'S EASY FOR HIM TO O.D.

THEN, I TELL HIM EVERY TIME I COME,

"I DON'T WANT TO OPEN THE DOOR AND YOU'RE NOT RESPONSIVE.

I DON'T WANT TO DO IT." SO, I REFUSE TO WATCH HIM DIE.

LAST DAY, YOU WANT TO CALL THE POLICE?

ALL RIGHT, WHAT A NICE WAY TO SAY GOODBYE, STEVEN.

ALL RIGHT. BYE-BYE.

Steven: I DON'T NEED HER, AND I'M GLAD I DON'T HAVE

TO DEAL WITH HER CRAP ANYMORE.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

**

[ SOBBING ]

MY LEGS HURT. CAN YOU DO SOMETHING FOR ME?

I NEED SOMETHING.

MY LEG, OKAY?

Woman: YES, SIR.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET ORDERS FROM DR. FLOWERS.

JUST TAKE SLOW, DEEP BREATHS, OKAY?

I SEE SOMETHING.

I DON'T KNOW.

-I SEE SOMETHING. -HE WANTS SOME DILAUDID.

STEVEN...

YOU'RE GONNA BE FINE. -CAN YOU HELP ME?

[ SOBBING ]

WE'LL HELP YOU. CAN YOU GIVE HIM --

JUST GIVE HIM A 30-MILLIGRAM TORADOL I.V.

-OKAY. -OKAY?

WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU SOME PAIN SHOT, OKAY?

-YEAH. -ALL RIGHT. JUST RELAX.

JUST TAKE IT EASY. YOU'RE GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.

AND HE HAS NOT CHANGED IN HIS PAIN-MEDICATION ADDICTION.

HE LOOKS BIGGER NOW THAN EVER,

AND HE'S EVEN PULLING HIS HAIR OUT AGAIN.

BUT WE CAN'T IGNORE THE POSSIBILITY

THAT HIS LEG ACTUALLY IS HURTING.

HE CRIES WOLF SO MANY TIME,

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S REAL WITH STEVEN.

SO, WE'LL HAVE TO FIND OUT

IF STEVEN'S LIFE IS IN DANGER RIGHT NOW.

HIS BODY CAN GO TO SHOCK,

WHERE HE WON'T BE ABLE TO SURVIVE.

SO, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO HELP AND DO AS WE CAN.

HE JUST HAS TO COOPERATE BECAUSE IF HE DOESN'T,

HE'S NOT GOING TO SURVIVE.

**

**

Steven: I'M BACK IN THE HOSPITAL AGAIN UNDER DR. NOWZARADAN'S CARE.

AND THEY'VE BEEN CHECKING ON MY LEG

TO SEE WHAT'S CAUSING THE PAIN.

AND NOW THAT THEY'VE FINISHED THEIR TESTS ON ME

AND GOT MY PAIN UNDER CONTROL,

DR. NOWZARADAN WANTS TO CHECK MY WEIGHT

AND SEE WHERE IT'S AT.

BUT I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS TO FIND OUT.

Steven: HEY.

ALL RIGHTY, I ZEROED IT.

Steven: OH, NO.

I GAINED OVER 100 POUNDS BACK.

I'M UPSET.

I DON'T THINK DR. NOWZARADAN'S GONNA BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

HE'S COMING IN LATER TO TELL ME ABOUT MY TEST RESULTS,

AND I'M REALLY SCARED TO FACE HIM RIGHT NOW.

-HI, STEVEN. -HEY.

-HOW ARE YOU TODAY? -HEY.

YOUR TEST RESULTS ARE BACK, AND HERE'S THE SITUATION.

SO, YOU HAVE A NEW BLOOD CLOT IN YOUR LEFT LEG.

YOU HAD THE PROBLEM WITH RIGHT LEG.

NOW YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH BOTH LEGS.

YOU KNOW, FROM DAY ONE THAT YOU ARRIVED HERE,

YOU HAVE GONE SO FAR BACKWARD

THAT IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

YOU GAINED 100 POUNDS,

AND YOU'RE DEALING STILL WITH THE DRUG ADDICTION.

AND YOU'RE STILL DEALING WITH THE FOOD ADDICTION.

HOW IN THE WORLD DID THAT HAPPEN?

I DON'T KNOW.

SINCE PRINCESS QUIT,

I BELIEVE EVERYTHING WENT DOWNHILL.

LOOK, STEVEN, YOU NEED TO HAVE

SOME SENSE OF YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY

AND STOP BLAMING EVERYONE AROUND YOU.

WE ARE THE ONES HELPING YOU.

AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TO INTERVENE AGAIN

SO YOU WON'T KILL YOURSELF.

Dr. STEVEN HAS COMPLETELY GONE OFF THE RAILS

SINCE I SAW HIM LAST.

HIS DETOX FAILED,

SO WE'LL HAVE TO HELP HIM THROUGH WITHDRAWAL

TO SAVE HIS LIFE AND ALSO PUT HIM

ON A CONTROLLED DIET FOR THE NEXT MONTH

SO WE CAN GET HIS WEIGHT DOWN.

STEVEN, I'M GOING TO ALLOW YOU

TO GET BACK IN THE PROGRAM AGAIN

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T START TO LOSE YOUR WEIGHT NOW,

YOU'RE GOING TO DIE.

AND RIGHT NOW IT'S A TOSS-UP

BETWEEN YOUR PAIN MEDICATION KILLING YOU OR YOUR WEIGHT.

SO, YOU WANT TO DO THIS OR NOT?

-YEAH. -OKAY, THEN I EXPECT YOU

TO BE ON YOUR BEST BEHAVIOR.

ALL RIGHT. SEE YOU LATER.

-OKAY. -MM-HMM.

NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO WITH STEVEN,

BUT THERE'S A LONGER ROAD NOW BECAUSE HE'S WORSE SHAPE

AND HE'S BIGGER NOW THAN WHEN HE ARRIVED.

HE'S KNOCKING AT DEATH'S DOOR.

SO, IF HE DECIDED HE DOESN'T WANT TO DO THIS,

THEN HE CAN TAKE THE RISK AND QUIT THE PROGRAM FOR GOOD.

Justin: I'M REALLY EXCITED TODAY

BECAUSE WE ARE FINALLY OPENING UP MY HOBBY STORE.

I'VE LOVED COLLECTIBLES AND MODELS

AND FIGURE THIS IS SOMETHING I REALLY KNOW.

SO, WHY DON'T I DO IT FOR A LIVING?

THE NAME OF MY STORE IS HOBBY HAVEN.

AND MY DAD AND TWO OF MY FRIENDS --

TONI AND BRIANNA -- ARE COMING TO HELP ME SET UP...

SO WE CAN FINALLY OPEN OUR DOORS TO THE PUBLIC.

I'M READY FOR THIS.

**

Steven Sr.: THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR JUSTIN.

HE'S BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD TO DO THIS

AND GET IT ALL SET UP.

AND WITH STEVEN NO LONGER HERE TO BULLY JUSTIN ALL DAY LONG,

HE'S LEAVING HIS ROOM MORE,

AND HE'S MADE TOW GOOD FRIENDS ALREADY.

AND IT'S AMAZING THAT HE FOUND PEOPLE LIKE THIS

IN HIS LIFE SO QUICK.

A LITTLE BIT OF SPRAY PAINT, AND YOU SHOULD BE ALL GOLDEN.

AND TONI -- I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW ATTACHED SHE GOT TO MY SON,

LIKE IT'S HER OWN SON.

I LOVE HER FOR THAT.

IT'S LIKE HE'S GOT A MOTHER TELLING HIM WHAT TO DO

THAT HE NEVER HAD.

EVERYTHING'S WORKING WELL SO FAR.

BUT IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN OVERNIGHT,

BUT I THINK THE STORE IS GONNA HELP HIM A LOT.

I WANT IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR HIM.

I REALLY DO, HONEY.

I BELIEVE IN JUSTIN.

AND WITH STEVEN GONE, I'M SEEING HIM THRIVE.

I JUST HOPE STEVEN STARTS TO TURN THINGS AROUND, TOO,

AND THEN BOTH MY SONS WILL BE ON THE RIGHT PATH

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES.

IT'S GONNA BE A STEPPING STONE.

IT'S GONNA MAKE HIM GET THAT CONFIDENCE

AND THAT ABILITY TO GET OUT THERE AND DO

AND BE PART OF PRODUCTIVE SOCIETY.

HE'S A GOOD PERSON. HE REALLY IS A GREAT PERSON.

**

Justin: IT FEELS REALLY GOOD TO START A CAREER

AND A BUSINESS LIKE THIS.

AND ONCE I START TO TURN MY LIFE AROUND,

I CAN MAKE MORE TIME TO FOCUS ON STUFF

LIKE MY DIET AND LOSING WEIGHT.

BUT RIGHT NOW I FEEL GOOD, SO I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT

I'M DOING WELL AND ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

**

Steven: I'VE BEEN BACK IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A MONTH NOW,

AND DR. NOW SAYS I'M GOING HOME TODAY.

SO, HE'S COMING TO CHECK MY WEIGHT,

AND THEN I'M SUPPOSED TO LEAVE.

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE KICKING ME OUT AGAIN

BECAUSE I BEHAVED A LOT BETTER THIS TIME

AND I STAYED ON THE CONTROLLED DIET

LIKE I'M SUPPOSED TO.

SO I DON'T THINK THIS IS FAIR.

BUT HE DID SAY I CAN GO BACK ON THE WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAM,

SO I'M HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

ALL RIGHT, STEVEN, LET'S SEE HOW YOU'RE DOING.

OKAY.

DO YOU HAVE A GOWN ON OR ANYTHING?

IT'S NOT LIKE YOU NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE.

DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERYBODY ELSE NEEDS TO.

OH, OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: THAT'S REALLY GOOD.

THAT'S ABOUT AN 80-POUND WEIGHT LOSS.

HEY. [ CHUCKLES ]

Dr. Nowzaradan: OVER THE PAST MONTH,

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET STEVEN'S WEIGHT

GOING BACK IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HE'S WORSE OFF AND HEAVIER

THAN WHEN HE LEFT THE HOSPITAL FIVE MONTHS AGO.

YOUR LEG IS DOING A LITTLE BIT BETTER,

AND WE GOT YOU OFF THE PAIN MEDICATION, TOO.

SO, WE'RE GONNA GET YOU GOING HOME.

-OKAY. -AND WE'RE GONNA SEE

IF WE CAN GET YOU BACK ON TRACK AGAIN.

-OKAY. -OKAY?

BUT HERE'S THE SITUATION.

YOU'RE GOING TO FINALLY START SEEING

THE THERAPIST I HAVE SENT TO YOU A NUMBER OF TIMES

AND YOU AVOIDED.

IF YOU WANT BACK ON THE PROGRAM,

YOU NEED TO COMPLY WITH EVERYTHING.

SO, YOU SEE THE THERAPIST IN A FEW DAYS.

-OKAY. -YOU START MEETING WITH HIM,

AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP MAKING PROGRESS

WITH YOUR WEIGHT.

AND I WANT YOU TO LOSE AT LEAST 40 POUNDS A MONTH.

-WELL, I HAVE A QUESTION. -YEAH?

YOU DID SAY YOU'RE GONNA SEND ME HOME

WITH SOME HYDROCODONE, THOUGH, RIGHT?

RIGHT NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY REASON TO BE ON IT.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO CONTROL YOUR EATING HABIT YOURSELF.

I'M -- I'M -- I'M -- ACTUALLY,

I'M DONE TALKING NOW.

I JUST WANT TO GO HOME, OKAY?

WELL, YOU'RE NOT DONE LISTENING, THOUGH.

YOU MAYBE -- -NO. I DISAGREE WITH THE PART --

YOU KNOW, I HAVE NOTHING AT HOME FOR PAIN.

YOU HAVE A DRUG ADDICTION.

WHAT PART OF THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, STEVEN?

-OKAY. I DO. -EVERY DAY YOU LIVE RIGHT NOW

IS A MIRACLE.

THE MIRACLE OF YOUR LIFE WILL STOP

NEXT TIME YOU DO THIS

OR THE TIME AFTER THAT OR SHORTLY AFTER THAT.

YOU KNOW WHAT MY JOB IS?

TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT SOON.

LISTEN TO ME, YOU WILL LIVE.

DON'T, YOU WILL DIE.

SO, I WANT TO SEE YOU IN ONE MONTH.

STAY OFF OF THE PAIN MEDICINE AND SEE THE THERAPIST

AND LOSE 40 POUNDS IN THAT TIME FRAME, OKAY?

-OKAY. -OKAY.

THANK YOU.

STEVEN DOESN'T LIKE AUTHORITY.

EVERYTHING EXISTS FOR HIS USE AND ABUSE RIGHT NOW.

THE CORE ISSUE IS THE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEM

THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS BEFORE ANY CHANGES ARE POSSIBLE,

WHICH MEANS A PSYCHOTHERAPIST HAS TO WORK

A LITTLE BIT WITH HIM

BEFORE WE CAN EXPECT ANY REAL CHANGES.

SO, IF HE FAILS TO SEE A THERAPIST AGAIN THIS TIME,

THEN THIS IS ALL GOING TO PLAY OUT

LIKE IT HAS IN THE PAST,

AND WE'RE GONNA LOSE STEVEN FOR GOOD.

**

Steven: ADDICTION'S TOUGH -- FOOD ADDICTION, DRUG ADDICTION.

BUT I'M NOT LONGER ADDICTED.

AND RIGHT NOW I'M ACTUALLY IN A LOT OF PAIN.

AND DR. NOW WON'T EVEN LISTEN TO ME ABOUT IT.

HE DOESN'T BELIEVE I'M IN AS MUCH PAIN AS I AM.

Man: TAKE ONE MORE FOOT THIS WAY.

AND THAT'S NOT A GOOD DOCTOR.

TRY TO GO THAT WAY.

OKAY.

I JUST NEED HELP WITH MY LEG.

HOW CAN I DO WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO

IF I DON'T EVEN HAVE WHAT I NEED TO DO IT?

I WANT TO GET BETTER AND SHOW EVERYONE I CAN DO THIS.

BUT HE WANTS ME TO LOSE A LOT OF WEIGHT ON MY OWN

AND START SEEING A THERAPIST.

AND THAT'S A LOT TO EXPECT FOR ME OVER THE NEXT MONTH.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO BLOW THIS.

SO I'LL FORCE MYSELF TO ENDURE IT

IF THAT'S WHAT I'LL TAKE TO MAKE THE DOCTOR HAPPY.

**

**

Steven: TODAY, I'M SEEING THE THERAPIST

THAT DR. NOWZARADAN WANTED ME TO START SEEING.

I'VE NOT REALLY BEEN INTERESTED IN TALKING TO ANYONE,

AND I'VE BEEN AVOIDING IT.

BUT I'M GIVING IT A CHANCE

BECAUSE DR. NOW HAS GIVEN ME ANOTHER CHANCE,

AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE HIS HELP.

SO, I'M JUST CLEANING UP A LITTLE

AND MAKING THIS PLACE SMELL A LITTLE BETTER

SO WE CAN HAVE A NICE SESSION.

BUT I DON'T THINK TALKING ABOUT THINGS

IS GONNA SOLVE A WHOLE LOT.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

COME IN.

HI. ARE YOU STEVEN? YEAH. HOW ARE YOU?

HI, STEVEN. I'M DR. PARADISE.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

THANKS.

CAN I SIT OVER THERE?

YEAH, OF COURSE.

SO, TELL ME HOW YOU'RE DOING.

I'M ALIVE, SO, UM...

TELL ME WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT MY BEING HERE.

ABOUT MY ADDICTION TO FOOD?

SO, I'M HERE TO WORK WITH YOU ON YOUR ADDICTION TO FOOD?

PROBABLY MY PIZZA. OKAY.

SO, LET ME TAKE YOU BACK TO -- TO YOUR HISTORY A LITTLE BIT.

MM-HMM. WHERE DID THIS START?

FOR THE MOST PART, I WAS CHUBBY EVEN AS A KID.

OKAY.

YOU WERE STEADILY GAINING WEIGHT THE WHOLE TIME.

YEAH, THEN THINGS TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORSE WHEN I HIT 30.

I JUST KNEW THAT WHEN YOU TURN 30,

THAT'S WHEN YOU START FEELING YOUR BODY BREAKING DOWN.

YOU HAD PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR SIZE?

YEAH, I DO.

RIGHT NOW THERE'S A BLOOD CLOT IN THIS LEG,

AND THERE'S A BLOOD CLOT IN THIS LEG.

THEY BOTH LOOK VERY PAINFUL.

IT IS.

OKAY. YEAH.

SO, THOSE GOT PAINFUL. YEAH.

AND YOU GOT PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE FOR IT.

YEAH.

I WAS ADDICTED TO THE I.V. DILAUDID STUFF.

I WAS TAKING SO MUCH, IT COULD KILL ANYONE,

SO I WENT TO A DRUG-AND-ALCOHOL REHABILITATION CENTER.

HOW DO THE DRUGS COMPARE TO THE FOOD?

THEY'RE BOTH ABOUT SELF-CONTROL, RIGHT?

YEAH, AND I WISH I CAN GRASP ONTO THE FOOD ADDICTION

LIKE I DID THE DRUGS.

YOU FEEL LIKE THE DRUGS ARE NOT AN ADDICTION NOW?

NO, THEY'RE NOT.

I CONQUERED THAT, AND I WANT TO TRY TO AVOID

BEING IN THE HOSPITAL AS MUCH AS I CAN NOW.

SO, WHAT'S THE BIGGEST BARRIER TO THAT?

THERE REALLY ISN'T ANY BARRIER.

I JUST WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT. I WANT YOU TO REALLY --

OH, OKAY. I COULD ALSO WRITE THAT DOWN.

SO, YOU'RE KIND OF A SMOOTH TALKER.

YES.

YEAH, I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT SMOOTH-TALKING YOURSELF.

[ LAUGHS ] YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

YEAH, I KNOW.

LIKE, YOU SEEM TO BE ABLE TO CONVINCE PEOPLE OF STUFF.

YOU THINK THAT HAS HELPED YOU OR HURT YOU?

OH, IT'S HURT ME, I THINK, MORE.

YOU'RE CONVINCING YOURSELF OF STUFF THAT'S NOT TRUE, RIGHT?

YEAH.

AND I THINK OUR JOB IS TO FIGURE OUT

THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH YOU SUCCEED...

MM-HMM.

...AND THEN ALSO IDENTIFY THOSE PLACES

WHERE YOU SEEM TO FALL OFF THE WAGON, RIGHT?

OH, YEAH, DEFINITELY.

WHERE YOU GO WRONG.

YEAH.

AND IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT, I GUESS, FEELING BETTER, RIGHT?

IT'S A VERSION OF THAT -- THE FOOD?

WHEN YOU LOST THE WEIGHT IN THE HOSPITAL, HOW DID THAT FEEL?

REALLY GOOD.

I FELT LIKE I WAS WALKING ON CLOUDS.

I FELT LIGHTER. YOU WERE LIGHTER.

I WAS LIGHTER.

SO, TELL ME WHAT YOUR NEXT POTHOLE'S GONNA BE.

WHAT'S THE NEXT THING THAT'S GONNA TRIP YOU UP?

HOPEFULLY NOTHING.

OKAY, NOW, THAT'S THE SWEET TALKER.

YOU'RE EVEN SMILING, RIGHT? BUT BE STRAIGHT UP.

OBVIOUSLY, I HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO EVENTUALLY SAY NO,

LIKE I CONQUERED THE DRUG ADDICTION,

JUST GAIN CONTROL.

RIGHT, AND YOU'VE HAD SUCCESS --

BUT WITH THE PIZZA, I JUST -- YEAH, I HAVE HAD SUCCESS,

AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO KEEP THINKING ABOUT.

LIKE, I HAVE DONE IT.

WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO BEFORE NEXT TIME...

MM-HMM.

...IS TO REMEMBER THOSE TIMES WHEN YOU'VE HAD A SUCCESS.

YEAH.

AND I WANT YOU TO BE REALLY AWARE OF THOSE POTHOLES.

SO, SOMETIMES WHAT HAPPENS IS PEOPLE ARE WALKING INTO POTHOLES

AND THEY DON'T EVEN REALIZE IT.

MM-HMM.

AND THEN THE NEXT TIME, THEY WALK UP TO IT,

THEY SEE IT, AND THEY STILL FALL IN.

YEAH.

AND THEN THE NEXT TIME, THEY WALK UP TO IT

AND THEY SEE IT AND THEN THEY WALK AROUND IT.

SO, WE'VE GOT TO IDENTIFY YOUR POTHOLES...

YEAH.

...AND IDENTIFY THOSE CONDITIONS WHERE YOU CAN BE A SUCCESS.

AND YOU'VE DONE IT,

AND I THINK YOU CAN DO IT OUTSIDE OF A HOSPITAL.

YEAH, TOTALLY.

IT WAS GOOD TO MEET YOU.

YOU, TOO. THANK YOU, DR. PARADISE.

THANKS. THANK YOU.

**

Dr. Paradise: STEVEN TALKED A LOT ABOUT OVERCOMING HIS DRUG ADDICTION.

AND AT THIS POINT,

I DIDN'T CONFRONT HIM ABOUT THE ONGOING PAINKILLER USE

'CAUSE I WAS MOSTLY INVESTED IN ESTABLISHING TRUST

AND RAPPORT WITH HIM.

AND THAT CONFRONTATION COMES OVER TIME,

ESPECIALLY WITH SOMEBODY LIKE STEVEN.

**

Steven: I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN DOING GOOD OVER THE LAST WEEK.

I'M STICKING TO THE DIET,

AND I HAVEN'T GONE TO THE HOSPITAL FOR PAIN MEDS.

I HAVE FOUND A FEW AROUND HERE AND TOOK THEM,

BUT IT'S BEEN MINIMAL.

SO, I'M DOING GOOD.

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE MY DAD FLEW INTO TOWN TODAY,

AND HE'S COMING TO SEE ME

AND HELP FIND ME A NEW PLACE TO LIVE

BECAUSE THIS ONE HAS JUST BECOME TOO EXPENSIVE TO STAY IN.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

Steven: HEY.

**

Steven Sr.: OH, MY GOD!

Steven: WHAT? THIS PLACE IS DISGUSTING.

IT SMELLS LIKE CAT PISS.

THIS [BLEEP] HOUSE STINKS WICKED [BLEEP] BAD.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS FLOOR?

THIS [BLEEP] KITCHEN FLOOR IS FILTHY.

I DON'T KNOW.

WHEN I WALKED INTO STEVEN'S APARTMENT,

I EXPECT IT TO LOOK CLEAN,

BUT I DIDN'T HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I WAS WALKING INTO HERE.

I WANT TO KILL HIM.

BETWEEN PAYING FOR HIS PLACE AND JUSTIN'S STORE, I'M GOING BROKE.

I AIN'T GONNA GET SUED FOR THIS [BLEEP] APARTMENT, TOO,

ON TOP OF IT, BEING SO [BLEEP] DIRTY.

[ COUGHS ]

[ CAT MEOWS ] IT'S OKAY.

I MEAN, WHAT'S IT TAKE TO MOP A [BLEEP] FLOOR?

TWO MINUTES?

I ALMOST LOST MY HOUSE

BECAUSE OF ALL THE [BLEEP] MONEY I'VE BEEN DISHING OUT

TO TRY TO KEEP THIS [BLEEP] IN --

KEEP YOU IN THIS [BLEEP] APARTMENT.

Steven: MY DAD IS JUST VERY UPSET

AND FRUSTRATED AND SCARED.

BUT I KNOW HE LOVES ME.

AND I LOVE HIM, TOO.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO GET UPSET LIKE THAT.

Steven: ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT? I'M GONNA TRY TO GET YOU AN APARTMENT.

OKAY.

IF I SEEN YOU DO THE RIGHT THING,

I WOULDN'T EVEN BE FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW.

YEAH.

WHEN I CAME HERE TONIGHT, I THOUGHT I WOULD SEE YOU

A LITTLE THINNER THAN WHAT YOU WERE.

YEAH.

BUT YOU'RE STILL THE SAME.

YEP.

AND IF YOU KEEP PROLONGING THIS AND PROLONGING THIS,

YOU AIN'T GONNA BE HERE MUCH LONGER.

I KNOW IT.

AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING I GOT ON MY MIND.

HOW MUCH LONGER DO YOU GOT?

AND YOU LOOK HIGH.

**

BUT I'M NOT ASKING ANY QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I CAN ONLY TAKE SO MUCH.

DO YOU EVER LOOK AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR?

BE HONEST.

**

YEAH.

WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE?

SHOULD YOU LOOK LIKE THAT?

NO, I -- NO. NO. NO.

NO. YOU SEE THIS?

SEE ALL THIS?

YEAH.

CAN YOU IMAGINE ALL THIS GONE AND IT'S ALL AS BIG AS THIS NOW?

NO.

COULD YOU IMAGINE IT?

NO. IT WOULD BE NICE, THOUGH.

IT WOULD BE, WOULDN'T IT?

Steven Sr.: STEVEN'S CHANCES HAVE JUST ABOUT RUN OUT

WITH EVERYONE ELSE,

AND THEY'RE ABOUT TO RUN OUT WITH ME, TOO, NOW

BECAUSE I CAN'T TAKE ANY MORE OF THIS BULL[BLEEP]

AND THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO.

IF HE FAILS, I KNOW I DID MY PART, BUT HE DIDN'T DO HIS.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY.

I'M JUST HOPING I CAN FIND YOU A PLACE BY FRIGGIN' THURSDAY.

WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY?

IF I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL'S GONNA HAPPEN.

I REALLY DON'T.

I'LL BE BACK TOMORROW MORNING.

GOODBYE.

BYE-BYE.

**

Steven Sr.: TODAY IS A VERY BUSY DAY FOR STEVEN AND ME.

WE ARE LOOKING AT APARTMENTS,

AND THEN HE HAS HIS THERAPY APPOINTMENT.

SO IT'S A LOT IN ONE DAY FOR HIM,

AND I CAN TELL HE'D RATHER BE AT HOME DOING NOTHING.

BUT HE HAS TO DO THIS SO HE CAN GET OVER IT.

**

HERE'S MY SON. THAT'S THE PROPERTY MANAGER.

Steven: HI. HOW DO YOU DO, MY FRIEND?

GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD, GOOD.

WANT ME TO TRY AND PULL THE GOLF CART OVER HERE?

YEAH, I THINK YOU'RE BETTER OFF BACKING IT IN.

[ BEEPING ]

RIGHT HERE.

**

YOU GUYS NEED A HAND?

Steven: I'M HAVING A HARD TIME MOVING AROUND AND DOING THIS,

SO I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

BUT I REALLY DON'T THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.

ALL RIGHT, JUST HOLD ON.

ALL RIGHT. READY?

LET'S GO PLAY GOLF.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO THIS.

OH, MY GOD.

ALL RIGHT, IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE -- LITTLE BUMPY.

AH, AH! OH, MY GOD.

OH, MY GOD. OH, MY GOD.

OH, MY GOD. YOU SHOULD BE OKAY.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA GO UP

A LITTLE BIT OF A -- OF A CURB HERE.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO GET HURT.

OH! OH! WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. HOLD IT.

AHH! OHH!

YOU ALL RIGHT?

NO! OH, GOD!

[ GASPS ] NO!

OH, MAN. COME ON.

NO! GO! NO!

NO, I CAN'T.

YOU CAN GET UP. COME ON.

OHH, MY WHOLE BODY!

I CAN'T! NO! ARE YOU OKAY?

NO!

[ SOBS ]

YOU NEED A -- AMBULANCE.

YOU NEED AN AMBULANCE?

OH, GOD, YEAH.

OH, GOD. OHH.

Steven Sr.: I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.

I DON'T THINK HE FELL FOR REAL...

OH, GOD.

...BUT I DON'T KNOW

BECAUSE STEVEN HAS DONE THIS SO MANY TIMES.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO RIGHT NOW.

OH, I CAN'T!

IF HE'S HURT AND I IGNORE IT, HE CAN END UP WITH AN EMERGENCY.

BUT IF HE'S FAKING,

THEN HE'LL GET MORE PAIN MEDS LIKE HE WANTS.

AND I FEEL LIKE EITHER CHOICE IS THE WRONG ONE RIGHT NOW.

OH, I GOT TO GO.

I GOT TO GO. IT HURTS.

OH, MY GOD. OH, GOD.

**

Steven: OH, GOD!

[ GROANS ] OHH, I CAN'T.

IT HURTS. Steven Sr.: WHAT HURTS?

EVERYTHING.

MY BACK AND STUFF. DID THEY CALL?

YEAH. THEY'RE HERE NOW. THEY'RE HERE. THEY'RE HERE NOW.

OHH!

I GOT TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

MY WHOLE [BLEEP] BODY HURTS.

MY BACK AND MY LEGS.

YEAH. MORE MY BACK.

**

Steven Sr.: YOU THINK THAT YOU COULD WALK OVER THERE?

YOU [BLEEP] KIDDING ME?!

WHY YOU YELLING?

'CAUSE I HIT THE [BLEEP] GROUND HARD,

AND YOU WANT ME TO MAKE A MIRACLE?!

**

I NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

Steven Sr.: I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.

I THINK STEVEN'S UP TO HIS OLD GAMES

AND THIS IS ALL JUST AN ACT.

HIS LEG EXCUSE DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE,

SO HE HAS TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING NEW.

AND I HAVE TO PUT AN END TO IT.

STEVEN, YOU'RE TOO BIG TO LIFT,

AND THEY CAN'T GET THE AMBULANCE OVER HERE.

I'M GONNA TELL YOU RIGHT NOW --

WHAT I COULD DO IS PULL THE VAN UP OVER HERE.

Steven: YEAH, YEAH.

LET ME SEE. OH, GOD.

YEAH, NO PROBLEM. I'LL GET HIM INTO THE VAN.

YOUS GUYS HELP ME GET HIM UP.

THEN YOUS CAN GO. HE'LL BE OKAY.

**

LET ME GET BEHIND HIM.

I DON'T KNOW, BUT...

OKAY. READY?

YEAH. GO.

COME ON. LIFT.

ALMOST THERE.

YEAH, ONCE HE'S STANDING UP, HE'S FINE.

**

ARE WE READY?

**

IT'LL GO AWAY. THE PAIN GOES AWAY.

SHUT THE [BLEEP] UP.

'CAUSE IF YOU WAS HURTING REAL BAD -- I'M GONNA EXPLAIN SOMETHING TO YOU...

YOU'RE A [BLEEP]

...YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET UP OFF THAT GROUND, AND YOU DID.

WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO -- STAY THERE?

ALL RIGHT, WHATEVER. THINGS HAPPEN.

DID I KNOW I WAS GONNA SLIP OFF THE [BLEEP] GOLF CART? NO.

DID I HAVE A FEELING? YES.

YOU LISTEN TO ME.

YOU'RE NOT MISSING YOUR THERAPIST APPOINTMENT.

I ALREADY CALLED HIM AND TOLD HIM

THAT WE WOULD BE THERE IN 10 MINUTES

AND HE NEEDS TO COME OUTSIDE AND GET YOU.

IF YOU STILL THINK YOU NEED A HOSPITAL AFTER THAT,

I'LL TAKE YOU.

I'M NOT TALKING TO DR. PARADISE.

WELL, IF YOU DON'T, YOU REALLY AIN'T GOING.

I'LL TAKE YOUR [BLEEP] RIGHT HOME.

THEN I'LL GO MY WAY.

YOU'RE FINE RIGHT NOW. DON'T PLAY GAMES.

YOU'RE NOT IN PAIN RIGHT NOW.

NO, I'M NOT!

NO, YOU'RE RIGHT! I'M NOT!

I'M NOT TALKING TO NOBODY.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET TO AVOID HIM.

YOU HEAR ME?

**

IS THAT HIM? YEP.

STEVEN. Steven: HI.

HOW YOU DOING, MAN?

CRAPPY NOW.

WHY ARE YOU CRAPPY? I SLIPPED OFF THE GOLF CART

AND I HIT THE GROUND REALLY HARD.

I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

IS THIS YOUR DAD? YES.

I'M DR. PARADISE. HOW ARE YOU?

HI. NICE TO MEET YOU.

YEAH. I'M STEVEN.

SO, MY HOPE IS THAT YOU WANT TO COME IN AND TALK TO ME.

YEAH, I'M NOT -- I CAN'T GO IN, BRO, NOT RIGHT NOW.

I HIT THE GROUND PRETTY HARD.

I NEED TO GET CHECKED OUT.

WE'VE GOT A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT,

SO I'M GONNA MEET WITH YOU AND YOUR DAD TOGETHER...

UH...

...OR I'M GONNA MEET WITH JUST YOUR DAD,

BUT I'D RATHER YOU BE THERE.

I CANNOT DO THAT TODAY, OKAY?

NO CHANCE? NO.

SO, YOU'RE GONNA WAIT IN THE VAN WHILE I TALK TO YOUR DAD?

NO. I NEED TO GET GOING TO THE HOSPITAL.

STEVEN, DO YOU WANT TO COME INTO MY OFFICE, MAN?

WE'RE NEAR THE HOSPITAL ANYWAY. THEY CAN DO IT.

STEVEN, THE BEST THING FOR YOUR SON RIGHT NOW

IS FOR YOU TO COME IN AND TALK TO ME.

CAN WE DO THAT? YEAH, I GUESS.

YEAH. WHY DON'T YOU COME IN?

JUST WAIT HERE. WE'LL BE OUT IN A HALF-HOUR.

YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THE SESSION WHENEVER YOU WANT.

NO. NO, I'M NOT. I GOT TO GO.

DO WHAT YOU WANT.

GOOD TO MEET YOU.

LET'S TALK. YEAH, YOU, TOO. [ CHUCKLES ]

**

YOU CAN COME IN AND HAVE A SEAT ON --

GO STRAIGHT THROUGH THE WAITING ROOM.

SO, WHAT I SAW IN THE CAR THERE --

IS THAT FAMILIAR,

HIM SORT OF DEMANDING SOMETHING FROM YOU

AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU CAN'T SAY NO?

OH, YEAH. IT'S BASICALLY WHAT HE DOES.

THE THING THAT I NOTICED, THOUGH,

IS HE'S VERY DEPENDENT

ON OTHER PEOPLE TO MAKE THOSE DEMANDS.

HE NEEDS YOUR HELP TO DO THIS STUFF.

YEAH.

HE NEEDS ACCOMPLICES IN THIS BEHAVIOR.

HE NEEDS DOCTORS TO PRESCRIBE THE MEDICINE.

HE NEEDS SOMEBODY TO TAKE HIM TO THE HOSPITAL.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE CAN WORK ON,

IS INCREASING OUR ABILITY TO TELL HIM NO.

I HAD A SPILL.

I FELL OFF A GOLF CART, AND I'M HURTING REALLY BAD.

YEAH, I SLIPPED OFF FROM THE BACK.

I HIT THE GROUND PRETTY HARD.

I THINK WHAT HIS PROBLEM IS, IS HE GETS --

WHEN HE'S IN THE HOSPITAL, HE'S SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE.

YEAH. WHEN HE GOES HOME,

HE DON'T HAVE NOBODY THERE. YEAH.

SO, I THINK HE GETS A LOT OF DEPRESSION.

MM-HMM. AND THAT'S WHEN HE EATS

BECAUSE HE'S BY HIMSELF.

YEP. HE'S LONELY.

YEP. I WONDER IF THIS IS THE --

[ SIREN WAILS ]

THIS MUST BE THE AMBULANCE RIGHT NOW, YOU THINK?

YEAH.

WE SHOULD COME UP WITH A PLAN RIGHT NOW

AND DECIDE WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO AND THEN JUST DO IT.

AND HE'LL TALK AND HEM AND HAW,

BUT IF THE PLAN IS THAT HE SHOULDN'T GO TO THE HOSPITAL,

I THINK WE HAVE TO CONSISTENTLY REPEAT TO HIM

THAT YOU'RE IN CHARGE.

I SLIPPED OFF A GOLF CART AS IT WAS DRIVING,

AND I HIT THE GROUND REALLY, REALLY HARD.

Man: WHAT'S HURTING ON YOU RIGHT NOW?

MY BACK AND MY LEGS.

YOUR BACK AND YOUR LEGS? ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10?

DID YOU LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS AT ALL?

LIKE A 9. NO.

YOU DRIVE THE CAR. IT'S YOUR CELLPHONE.

HE CAN COMPLAIN, BUT IF HE GETS LIKE THAT,

I JUST WANT YOU TO PRETEND YOU DON'T HEAR HIM.

Steven Sr.: OKAY, I'LL GIVE IT A TRY.

**

HE'S FINE.

YEAH.

HEY, CAPTAIN KUDI.

NO. OKAY.

YEAH. YOU GUYS HAVE GOT TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING.

THIS IS BULL[BLEEP] HE'S ADDICTED TO A DRUG.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? HE WANTS THAT...

HE WANTS THAT DRUG SO HE CAN GET -- "AHH" --

FLOATY. YEAH.

WHATEVER YOU SAY, BUDDY.

I SWEAR TO GOD, YOU GO WITH THESE GUYS,

I AM GOING BACK HOME,

AND YOU'RE GONNA BE HOMELESS 'CAUSE I'M --

YOU'RE GONNA BE ALL DONE.

YOU GOT TO MAKE THAT DECISION YOURSELF.

YOU'RE GOING WITH THEM, GO.

I'M GOING BACK HOME, AND YOU'VE LOST EVERYTHING.

OKAY. WHATEVER.

NO. I'LL GO WITH MY DAD.

SO GET THAT OFF YOUR NECK. YOU DON'T NEED IT.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE IT ON ALL THIS TIME.

Dr. Paradise: SO, I'M GONNA SEE YOU NEXT WEEK?

YES.

FOR REAL? YEAH.

OKAY. FEEL BETTER.

I WANT THIS TO BE JUST LIKE A LITTLE SETBACK, OKAY?

OKAY. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

AND REMEMBER, LIKE, EVERY TIME YOU TAKE THE PAINKILLER,

IT PUSHES YOU A LITTLE BIT FURTHER FROM YOUR GOAL.

OKAY. OKAY.

I'LL SEE YOU SOON, OKAY? OKAY.

**

Steven Sr.: STEVEN'S GOT TO GET HIS ACT TOGETHER NOW.

I WANT TO HELP PUSH HIM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,

IF HE CAN'T CLEAN HIMSELF UP, HE'S GONNA DIE.

BUT THE CHOICE IS ALL HIS.

**

Steven Sr.: AFTER A WEEK OF LOOKING EVERYWHERE,

WE FINALLY FOUND A NEW APARTMENT FOR STEVEN,

AND SO WE'RE MOVING HIM TODAY.

Steven Sr.: HELLO?

JUSTIN: When are you coming home?

WELL, ACCORDING TO THE FLIGHT THING,

IT SAYS I'M ARRIVING IN GREEN AIRPORT

LIKE AT 12:30, QUARTER TO 1:00.

I HAD TO GO HELP JOHN. I HAD NO CHOICE.

DON'T WORRY. I'LL BE -- I'LL BE --

I'LL BE THERE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER TOMORROW.

BUH-BYE!

YOU'RE A [BLEEP] PAIN IN MY ASS.

YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE EMERGENCY ACCESS

WORKS ON THAT PHONE, TOO.

JOHN, DON'T EVEN START.

THEY'RE NOT GONNA WANT TO SEE AMBULANCES

THERE ALL THE TIME. NO.

I GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT EMERGENCY ACCESS WORKS

JUST IN CASE.

Steven Sr.: STEVEN'S GOT TO REALIZE THAT I'M AT AN AGE NOW

THAT HE CAN'T JUST KEEP AGGRAVATING ME

BECAUSE THE AGGRAVATION'S GONNA KILL ME.

NOW WHERE'S HE GONNA BE IF I'M NOT HERE?

**

I'M HELPING STEVEN MOVE BECAUSE HE'S NOT CAPABLE.

HE'S HANDICAPPED.

AND HE COULDN'T LIFT UP A BOX IF HE WANTED TO,

SO I BASICALLY GOT TO DO EVERYTHING.

I'M GONNA TRY LIKE HELL TO GET ALL THIS DONE TONIGHT

SO I CAN GO BACK TO RHODE ISLAND TOMORROW MORNING...

OH, MY GOD.

...BECAUSE I NEED TO GET BACK TO JUSTIN.

I WORRY ABOUT BOTH OF MY SONS,

BUT STEVEN MORE BECAUSE HE'S SO BAD OFF RIGHT NOW.

SO IT SCARES ME.

LIKE THIS, AGAINST THE WALL?

Steven: CORRECT.

Steven: I'M SAD TO SEE MY DAD GO.

AS MUCH AS WE FRUSTRATE EACH OTHER,

I LIKE HAVING HIM AROUND.

AND I KNOW HE JUST WANTS THE BEST FOR ME,

SO I WANT TO MAKE HIM PROUD.

BUT THERE ARE MOMENTS WHERE I JUST WANT PAINKILLERS

OR TO EAT THAT I CAN'T RESIST IT.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CHANGE THAT.

ALL RIGHT, MAN, I'M GONNA GO.

ALL RIGHT. BYE-BYE.

NEXT TIME I SEE YOU IS WHEN YOU GET THE OPERATION DONE.

ALL RIGHT. BYE.

DO THE RIGHT THING.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

**

**

IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE I LEFT THE HOSPITAL.

**

AND NOW I'M SUPPOSED TO SEE DR. NOWZARADAN FOR MY CHECKUP.

**

BUT I DON'T REALLY WANT TO BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE

I'M GONNA HAVE MADE THE PROGRESS I WAS SUPPOSED TO.

**

BUT I DON'T WANT TO MAKE HIM EVEN MORE UPSET BY SKIPPING.

**

SO I'LL GO FACE THE MUSIC IF I HAVE TO.

**

I WAS SUPPOSED TO LOSE AT LEAST 40 POUNDS AND GET UNDER 670.

HI.

AND I'M NOT SURE IF I DID THAT.

BUT I DO FEEL LIKE I MADE SOME PROGRESS.

THAT'S REALLY NOT GOOD.

I'VE GAINED SOME OF THE WEIGHT BACK AGAIN,

AND I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENED.

IF I DIDN'T THINK DR. NOWZARADAN WOULD BE ANGRIER IF I LEFT,

THEN I WOULD

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO FACE HIM RIGHT NOW.

HELLO. Steven: HI.

HOW YOU DOING, STEVEN?

WELL, FIRST LET ME SAY --

'CAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA BRING IT UP --

I GAINED 21 POUNDS

BECAUSE I SLIPPED UP A COUPLE TIMES.

BUT I'M BACK ON TRACK NOW.

HOWEVER -- NO. WAIT A MINUTE.

HOW MANY TIMES YOU BEEN BACK ON TRACK?

NO. I REALLY --

NO. HOW MANY TIMES? WELL...

LET ME GIVE YOU SOME STATISTICS, OKAY?

YOU CAME TO HOUSTON 10 MONTHS AGO,

AND YOU WERE 730 POUNDS.

WE HELPED YOU TO LOSE 100 POUNDS.

THEN YOU GAIN IT ALL BACK AND MORE.

SO WE GOT YOU BACK TO 729.

NOW YOU GAINED 20 POUNDS IN ONE MONTH

WHEN YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO LOSE 40 POUNDS.

SO, YOU MADE NO PROGRESS,

AND WHEN WE DO HELP YOU, YOU IMMEDIATELY UNDO IT.

MM-HMM. AND WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?

ABSOLUTE FAILURE. MM-HMM.

ABSOLUTE FAILURE.

WELL, I CAN EXPLAIN --

NEXT TIME, IT'S GONNA BE 800 POUNDS?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

NEXT TIME, IT'S GONNA BE UNDER --

PROBABLY 600 OR UNDER 600.

THAT'S NEVER GONNA HAPPEN,

AND YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT YOURSELF, EITHER.

I DO WANT TO COMMIT TO WORKING OUT NOW,

BUT I'M HAVING A HARD TIME

'CAUSE I OBVIOUSLY DON'T HAVE ANY MORE MEDICATION ANYMORE.

AND I JUST NEED, LIKE, YOU KNOW,

A REFILL TO HELP ME OUT, LIKE, WITH WORKING OUT.

YOU'RE ACTUALLY ASKING ME FOR PAIN MEDICATION?

YEAH. I WANT TO WORK OUT TWO TIMES A DAY.

ALL RIGHT. I REALLY DO.

I REALLY DO. STEVEN, IN THE PAST MONTH --

I WANT TO COMMIT TO THIS, THOUGH.

EH.

I KNOW YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME. IN THE PAST MONTH,

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN TO EMERGENCY ROOM?

I HAVE BEEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM -- HMM --

MAYBE FIVE TIMES, I THINK.

FIVE TIMES IN A MONTH.

AND SO YOU GO TO ONE HOSPITAL.

THEY RECOGNIZE THAT YOU'RE A DRUG ADDICT.

THEN YOU GO TO ANOTHER ONE.

LET ME JUST GIVE YOU SOMETHING.

THIS IS A PRESCRIPTION MONITORING PROGRAM

WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS.

YOU RECEIVED 39 PRESCRIPTIONS FROM 17 DIFFERENT DOCTORS.

MM-HMM. THAT RING A BELL?

WELL, OBVIOUSLY, I CAN SEE IT ON THE PAPER.

IT CAN'T BE A LIE. THEN YOU GO TO THE NEXT PAGE.

YOU HAVE RECEIVED TYLENOL AND CODEINE, 259 TABLETS.

YOU'VE RECEIVED TRAMADOL, 1,045 TABLETS,

HYDROCODONE, 970 TABLETS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

IF YOU HAVE PRESCRIPTION

FROM ANY OTHER DOCTOR THAN ONE DOCTOR,

WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PRESCRIBE YOU PAIN MEDICATION.

MM-HMM. SO, THIS IS THE END OF IT.

YOU HAVE EXHAUSTED

LIFETIME HOSPITAL PRIVILEGES TO BE ADMITTED.

SO YOUR DAYS OF ABUSING THE SYSTEM ARE OVER.

OKAY. THANK YOU. HAVE A NICE DAY.

I WANT TO LEAVE. YOU GOT THAT?

YES. I'M DONE. TAKE THIS. OKAY.

THIS INFORMATION IS GOING TO DATABANK.

OKAY.

AND ONCE I PUT THIS IN THE DATABASE,

THE NEXT TIME YOU DO THIS, YOU'LL BE ARRESTED.

I WANT TO LEAVE. I WANT TO LEAVE.

NO.

I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE. I WANT TO LEAVE.

AH, FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE. I WANT YOU TO COME WITH ME.

LET'S GO DOWN THE HALL.

WHERE?

JUST WALK WITH ME.

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU SOMETHING.

OKAY.

MAKING ME WALK.

Dr. Nowzaradan: COME ON IN.

NOW, STAND OVER HERE AND LOOK AT THAT MIRROR.

[ Chuckling ] WHY?

LOOK AT YOURSELF. LOOK.

LOOK AT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO YOUR BODY.

TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE.

A BIG FAILURE.

YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT YOURSELF.

COME ON. KEEP LOOKING AT YOURSELF.

OKAY.

YOU SEE YOURSELF THERE?

CAN I STEP AWAY FROM THE MIRROR?

YOU HAD ENOUGH? YOU LOOK ENOUGH AT YOURSELF?

YOU SEE WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO SEE?

YEAH. I DON'T WANT TO LOOK ANYMORE.

LOOK AT YOUR BODY.

LOOK AT YOUR STOMACH.

WHEN YOU CAME, IT WASN'T HANGING THAT FAR.

NOW IT'S HANGING ALL DOWN.

MM-HMM. LOOK AT YOUR LEG --

SWOLLEN, RED, LYMPHEDEMA IN BOTH OF THEM,

LOOK LIKE AN ELEPHANT'S LEG.

MM-HMM.

IT DOESN'T LOOK HUMAN ANYMORE

BECAUSE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. MM.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT SEEING YOURSELF THE WAY YOU ARE.

YOU SEEN ANYBODY DO THAT TO THEIR BODY?

NO. YOU DID THAT ALL TO YOURSELF.

MM-HMM. I DON'T WANT TO LOOK ANYMORE.

WHAT'D IT TAKE TO REALIZE THAT YOU'RE KILLING YOURSELF?

MM. NOW?

I NEVER LOOK IN THE MIRROR, SO, YEAH.

CAN I SIT ON THAT?

YES, YOU CAN SIT.

BACK IS GIVING OUT.

OKAY.

SO, YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO CONTROL ANY OF YOUR IMPULSES.

YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED IN GIVING UP YOUR DRUG HABIT.

AND I DON'T SEE ANY WAY OUT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GONNA SAVE YOU FROM YOURSELF.

I NEED HELP WITH -- NO.

YOU HAD ALL THE HELP YOU'RE GONNA GET.

THIS ADDICTION IS GONNA KILL YOU.

YOU NEED TO DECIDE TO GIVE UP YOUR FOOD ADDICTION

AND DRUG ADDICTION BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU SAW IN THE MIRROR.

IF YOU WANT THAT TO BE YOU, THAT'S FINE.

YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT

AND FIND A WAY TO KILL YOURSELF ON YOUR OWN.

BUT IF YOU COME BACK HERE,

I EXPECT TO SEE YOU DOWN A GOOD AMOUNT OF WEIGHT.

IF NOT, WE'RE COMPLETELY DONE.

MM-HMM.

STEVEN IS AT A VERY IMPORTANT CROSSROADS RIGHT NOW.

HIS PAIN MEDICINE HAS BEEN SHUT OFF,

SO HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY CHOICE BUT TO GIVE UP THIS ADDICTION.

AND HE CAN EITHER GET WITH THE PROGRAM

AND WORK WITH US

TO GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK TO LIVE

OR HIS CHANCES ARE UP.

AFTER THIS,

THERE ARE NO MORE OPPORTUNITIES ON THIS PROGRAM.

**

Steven: WHEN I GOT HOME AFTER SEEING DR. NOW LAST WEEK,

IT TOOK A LITTLE WHILE, BUT THE STUFF HE SAID SUNK IN.

**

TWO...

IT WAS REALLY HARD AT FIRST

NOT HAVING ANY PAINKILLERS ANYMORE.

AND I'M STILL REALLY STRUGGLING.

BUT I FEEL LIKE I'M WAKING UP A LITTLE,

LIKE SOME HAZE IS CLEARING IN MY HEAD.

I DON'T WANT WHO I SAW IN THE MIRROR TO BE ME,

SO I DECIDED TO MAKE A CHANGE.

AND I'M DOING IT BY THROWING OUT

ALL THE STUFF THAT'S BAD FOR ME.

GOT A LOT MORE SODA TO GO, A LOT MORE BAD STUFF.

**

BY DOING THIS,

I'M ACTUALLY CONQUERING MY ADDICTION FOR ONCE.

IN YOU GO, ADDICTION.

SEE YOU. BYE.

DOWN THE DRAIN. BYE.

**

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A WHILE,

I WANT TO LIVE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

AND ONCE DR. NOW STARTED TO READ OFF

HOW MANY PAINKILLERS I HAD TAKEN IN JUST A MONTH,

I REALIZED HOW RISKY THIS HAS BEEN FOR ME...

...BECAUSE IT WAS A LOT.

THIS IS MY HYDROCODONE BOTTLE -- 120.

AND I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE.

OH, WOW.

I DIDN'T REALIZE I TOOK THAT MANY.

WHOA. THAT'S SCARY.

I WANT MY LIFE TO CHANGE.

AND WHEN I GO BACK TO SEE DR. NOW,

I KNOW I HAVE TO HAVE LOST WEIGHT.

SO I'M EATING RIGHT AND TRYING TO STAY ACTIVE.

[ WHIMPERING ]

I'M OUT HERE IN THE FREEZING-COLD RAIN,

AND EACH STEP I TAKE,

MY FEET HAVE THIS BURNING SENSATION.

AND ALL I WANT TO DO IS GO BACK INSIDE.

BUT I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TELL DR. NOWZARADAN

THAT I'M WALKING THROUGH THE FIRE THIS TIME

AND NOT BEING A FAILURE AND A LOSER.

I WANT TO SHOW EVERYBODY THAT IT'S POSSIBLE TO CHANGE.

AND MAYBE THAT COULD LEAD TO GOOD THINGS,

LIKE REPAIRING MY RELATIONSHIP WITH JUSTIN.

BUT I NOW I HAVE TO START TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR MYSELF

TO PROVE I CAN GET READY FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

Justin: THE HOBBY STORE HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

AND I'VE BEEN THINKING THAT MAYBE I WANT

TO GO BACK TO HOUSTON SOMETIME SOON

TO TRY AND GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

I HAVE A SKYPE APPOINTMENT TODAY WITH DR. NOW

BECAUSE I REACHED OUT TO HIM AND I WANTED TO TALK TO HIM.

IT'S BEEN LIKE 11 MONTHS SINCE I SAW HIM,

SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT HE'S GONNA THINK.

[ RINGING ]

HI, JUSTIN. HI, DR. NOW.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY? I'M DOING GOOD.

SO, ARE YOU CHECKING YOUR WEIGHT LIKE WE ASKED YOU TO?

BUT I DON'T REALLY LIKE THE SCALE.

WELL, YOU MAY NOT LIKE IT,

BUT YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO USE IT

IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET YOUR WEIGHT DOWN.

SO, I NEED YOU TO START GETTING

ON THE SCALE AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH.

OKAY.

HOW ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR DIET?

I FELL OFF THE RAILS ONCE.

I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF RAVIOLI WITH MY FATHER.

SO, YOUR DIET ISN'T REALLY GOING WELL RIGHT NOW.

NOT AT ALL.

WELL, YOU DON'T WANT TO END UP

BEING LIKE YOUR BROTHER, STEVEN, THAT HAS --

HIS WEIGHT IS OUT OF CONTROL.

I KNOW. IT'S JUST BEEN VERY STRESSFUL

SINCE OPENING THE STORE WITH MY FATHER.

STRESS IS PART OF LIFE,

BUT STRESS SHOULD NOT REFLECT ON OUR EATING HABIT.

IT'S JUST AN EXCUSE, I GUESS.

SO, DO YOU THINK SEEING A THERAPIST

IS GOING TO BE ANY HELP FOR YOU?

NOT AT ALL. WHY IS THAT?

I TRIED IT BEFORE WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER.

I DIDN'T LIKE IT.

MAYBE YOU NEED TO SEE A DIFFERENT THERAPIST.

NO, I FIGURED OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ON MY OWN.

I HAVE COPING MECHANISMS.

WELL, SOMETIMES COPING MECHANISMS TRANSLATE

INTO GAINING WEIGHT, THOUGH.

WELL, MY COPING MECHANISM IS BASICALLY

JUST LISTENING TO MUSIC.

IF THAT WORKS FOR YOU,

YOU WOULD HAVE LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT,

BUT YOU HAVEN'T.

I'M NOT GAINING ANY WEIGHT.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S COMPLETELY ACCURATE.

YOU'RE GAINING STILL.

NO ONE THAT IS OVER 600 POUNDS

HAS THEIR WEIGHT STAYED THE SAME.

YOU'RE EITHER GAINING OR LOSING.

SO, WHAT IS YOUR LINE OF THINKING

ABOUT HAVING SURGERY FOR WEIGHT LOSS?

I DO WANT IT. OKAY.

FOR THAT, YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR EATING HABITS

AND START LOSING 30 POUNDS EVERY MONTH

IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS, RIGHT?

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

BUT I NEED TO GET A STARTING WEIGHT FROM YOU,

AND YOU HAVE TO GET ON THE SCALE, OKAY?

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

LET'S START DOING THAT.

IN THE MEANTIME, I WANT YOU TO HAVE OPEN MIND

ABOUT SEEING A THERAPIST, OKAY?

I'LL TRY. STICK WITH THE PROGRAM,

AND I'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU, OKAY?

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

BYE, DR. NOW. BYE.

I THINK THE CALL WENT WELL.

I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF SEEING A THERAPIST

BECAUSE I THINK I CAN KEEP USING MUSIC

TO HELP ME DEAL WITH THINGS.

TO COPE WITH THE STRESS AND GET BACK ON THE PROGRAM,

I'M JUST GONNA CRANK UP THE MUSIC TO 11.

BUT I'LL CONSIDER EVERYTHING THAT DOCTOR'S TELLING ME

AND PROBABLY BE APPROVED BEFORE MY BROTHER IS.

**

Steven: TODAY, I'M AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE

TO SEE HOW MUCH WEIGHT I'VE LOST.

IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS SINCE I SAW DR. NOW LAST.

I'VE NOT HAD ANY PAIN MEDS, AND I'VE STUCK TO THE DIET.

Woman: STEVEN ASSANTI?

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M DOING BETTER.

BUT I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA IF I'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS

OR JUST A LITTLE.

AND I'M SO NERVOUS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I KNOW

EVERYTHING IS RIDING ON WHAT THE SCALE IS ABOUT TO SAY.

**

Steven: I'M SO NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.

I WAS AT 750 THE LAST TIME I WEIGHED IN,

AND DR. NOW TOLD ME TO LOSE A GOOD AMOUNT OF WEIGHT

ON MY OWN TO PROVE TO HIM

I'M FINALLY 100% COMMITTED TO THE PROGRAM.

OH! [ CHUCKLES ]

[ LAUGHS ]

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

OOH!

**

I JUST REALLY HOPE THIS IS ENOUGH FOR DR. NOW

TO THINK I'M READY FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

HELLO. HI.

HOW YOU DOING, STEVEN?

WELL, GOOD.

OKAY, SO, YOU LOST 73 POUNDS IN A BIT OVER TWO MONTHS.

THAT IS A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SO I'M PROUD OF YOU.

YOU'VE SHOWN ME THAT IT IS POSSIBLE

FOR YOU TO CONTROL YOURSELF.

BUT I STILL NEED TO SEE MORE FROM YOU

BEFORE I KNOW YOU'RE READY FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY, OKAY?

OKAY.

BUT IT'S IMPERATIVE TO KEEP SEEING THE THERAPIST.

BUT YOU'RE DOING GOOD.

STEVEN STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO,

BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HE HAS BEEN IN HERE,

I'M FEELING OPTIMISTIC

AND LIKE THERE IS A CHANCE TO HELP HIM RIGHT NOW.

SO, THIS IS A GOOD MOMENTUM,

AND I WANT YOU TO LOSE 40 POUNDS OVER THE NEXT MONTH, OKAY?

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

THE CHANCES OF SUCCESS WITH STEVEN

ARE DEPENDING TOTALLY ON HIM,

AND HOPEFULLY, WE CAN TAKE A STEP-BY-STEP APPROACH

TO GETTING HIM TO BECOME A HEALTHY PERSON

SO HE CAN START TO LOSE WEIGHT AND CHANGE HIS LIFE.

Steven: THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN DR. NOW SMILE AT ME.

I KNOW THIS CHANCE IS A GIFT,

AND I'M NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING TO SCREW IT UP.

AS I GET FURTHER AND FURTHER FROM MY DRUG ADDICTION,

I FEEL LIKE THINGS ARE GETTING CLEARER FOR ME,

AND ONE THING THAT'S REALLY BEEN ON MY MIND

IS MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY BROTHER.

I THINK WHAT HURT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH MY BRO

IS I WAS A BIG BULLY AND I DROVE HIM INSANE.

**

I KNOW I HAVEN'T BEEN GOOD TO HIM.

BUT I NEED HIM TO KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM.

AND I REALLY WANT HIM

TO TRY AND GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY, TOO.

HI, JOHN. HI.

HOW'S YOUR STORE DOING, JUSTIN? VERY GOOD.

MADE A LOT OF $100s TODAY.

GOOD. SO, HOW MUCH DID YOU LOSE?

I WAS DOWN 73 POUNDS. ALL RIGHT.

SO, HAVE YOU BEEN WATCHING WHAT YOU'VE BEEN EATING?

HAVE YOU BEEN TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT?

YEAH. YEAH.

YEAH. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY.

BELIEVE ME. I KNOW.

I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU

THAT I REALLY HOPE YOU GET THE SURGERY, AND...

I JUST WANT YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING, ALL RIGHT?

AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I CARE ABOUT YOU.

UH...

[ Voice breaking ] I JUST WANT TO APOLOGIZE

ABOUT EVERYTHING I PUT YOU THROUGH IN THE PAST.

I'M NOT SOMEBODY YOU SAY THAT TO

AND YOU AUTOMATICALLY GET FORGIVENESS FROM ME.

YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT. NO, I UNDERSTAND,

AND I WILL EARN YOUR FORGIVENESS.

YOU HAVE TO. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU'LL GET IT BACK.

JUST KEEP DOING THE RIGHT THING.

AND I LOVE YOU AS A BROTHER.

ALL RIGHT.

PLEASE DO THIS, OKAY?

I'M PLANNING ON GETTING THE SURGERY.

THAT'S AWESOME, JUSTIN. YEAH, OF COURSE.

I HAVE TO UPDATE MY WILL FIRST.

[ CHUCKLES ]

IT'S GONNA BE VERY EXCITING FOR THAT DAY TO COME FOR ME.

I'LL BE DOWN -- I'LL BE DOWN THERE SOON.

SO, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

YOU, TOO.

BYE. BYE.

**

WHY DON'T YOU STAND IN THE SUN WHERE IT'S MORE --

YOU FEEL THE HEAT BETTER.

Justin: I'M NOT SURE IF I CAN BELIEVE ANYTHING STEVEN SAYS

BECAUSE HE HAS MOOD SWINGS, HE HAS DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES.

IT DEPENDS ON WHICH STEVEN HE IS TODAY.

I KNOW RIGHT NOW HE IS MAKING BETTER CHOICES,

BUT STEVEN HAS TO KEEP DOING THE RIGHT THING

IF HE WANTS TO GET MY TRUST BACK.

AND THAT'S A HARD THING TO DO.

[ WHISTLES ]

STEVEN HAS TO EARN IT.

I MEAN, NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES,

HE STILL HAS TO EARN IT.

OH! I GOT IT.

AND DESPITE EVERYTHING THAT STEVEN HAS DONE TO ME,

I DO WANT THE BEST FOR HIM, NO MATTER WHAT.

**

I LOVE MY BROTHER, AND ONE OF THE THINGS

I WANT THE MOST IS TO REPAIR MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

AND I KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME

AND THAT THERE'S A LOT TO PROVE.

SO, THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO, NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES.