Rehab centers are meant to be a safe haven for people who have hit rock bottom in their lives; people with drug addictions and alcohol problems.

Hollywood has created a new type of rehab, purely for good press. With a huge surge in the number of celebrities attending rehab clinics, one has to wonder if it is of their doing or that of their publicists.

Late last year, actor Mel Gibson entered rehab after being arrested for drunk driving, but more importantly because of his anti-Semitic comments to police regarding race and religion.

Miss Teen USA entered rehab after reports of underage drinking and drug use. She was only allowed to keep her crown if she was willing to enter rehab.

Grey’s Anatomy actor Isaiah Washington entered rehab after making anti gay remarks on the set of the hit television show. Several groups called for his resignation before he entered rehab.

Actress Lindsay Lohan admitted herself into rehab for alcohol addiction and although she may hit the clubs a lot, she may or may not be an alcoholic, but she certainly wants her bad press to go away until her next big disaster. Supermodel Kate Moss entered rehab after cocaine use that stole millions of dollars of modeling deals. After her stint in rehab she won back many of the deals and has climbed back to the top of the modeling world. Senator Mark Foley entered rehab after he was caught sending explicit emails to an underage male intern. He claimed he was an alcoholic, and evaded the press by locking himself in a clinic until the brunt of the accusations lost their power.

All of these events could lead the public to believe that celebrity entrance into rehab is not really an effort to change their lives, but an effort to stop the hate mail from flowing in from all sides of the country. After a celebrity enters rehab, miraculously enough, the nation smiles on their attempts to turn around their lives, for real or not.

Rehab clinics are hideaways from the hounding of paparazzi and the curious eyes of the less famous. It is like an exclusive spa reserved only for those who messed up big time. The rehab is the golden ticket for any celebrity under fire. It is not about getting better, it is about having the world love you again.