With popular existing programming such as “Dr. Down Below” and “Dr. Pimple Popper,” it’s no wonder TLC recently launched a new reality show with this eyebrow-raising title: “Crack Addicts.” But this time, the focus is not a urology or dermatology practice; it’s the Palm Beach, Fla., chiropractic practice of Dr. Alessandra Colón.
The series, which debuted in May, provides a glimpse into the day-to-day life of Dr. Colón as she helps patients – many of whom have unique and challenging cases, following the theme of other TLC medical programming – thrive with the power of chiropractic care.
Per the “About This Show” section of the show’s web page: “With groundbreaking chiropractic methods, Dr. Alessandra Colón and her one-of-a-kind staff tackle the most extreme and debilitating physical conditions. Through every snap, crack and pop, she provides relief when no one else can.”
A Palmer Florida graduate, Dr. Colón’s vision of becoming a DC took root in her teens, when she was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma. As she states in her biography, “beating cancer [gave] me the push to become more knowledgeable about the human body, nutrition, and natural prevention of disease.”
In the first episode, Dr. Colón dispels misconceptions about chiropractors; explains how chiropractors are “doctors of the nervous system” and that “the nervous system controls the whole body”; and says that “every day, someone comes through my door on their last bit of hope.”
Episode one – as the show’s title suggests – also has plenty of “cracking” as she adjusts patients (a recurring theme in the series thus far), with patients commenting, “That was the best thing ever!” “I don’t feel any pain; like, for the first time I feel good,” and “I love it” after receiving adjustments.
While “Crack Addicts” is a television show and as such, is clearly produced with a certain level of entertainment value in mind, it would be hard to challenge that the show has significant value for the profession – first and foremost because it is a recurring show on a popular network.
Touted as the top primetime cable network without news or sports among key demographics (particularly women) in 2022, TLC has an estimated audience of 81 million viewers. It was also the “#1 cable network driving video views for reality and unscripted programming” and “the #2 network for total engagements [on TikTok] with 83 million,” per a TLC press release.
To learn more about “Crack Addicts” and watch season one, visit https://go.tlc.com/show/crack-addicts-tlc-atve-us. The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP) will also be releasing a podcast ("Crack Addicts: One on One With Doctor Colón”) – the latest in its award-winning “Adjusted Reality” podcast series. Stay tuned.
