Though he had a really difficult time writing this, I think it’s one of the most honest things I’ve ever read…
Well, I’m not going to lie: I still can’t get through watching the whole episode without fast-forwarding through some of the parts. It’s really hard for me to sit back and watch how I look and act while under the influence. But in a sense, I feel it is good “additional” therapy for me.
During parts of the show, a few of the roommates hinted that “something” must have set me off. I’m a man, and ultimately, I make the final call on what I choose to do or not do, so I will NOT make any excuses for my behavior and what happened. I will admit that with the mixture of being out of my element, in this lockdown environment, and the recent fight I had with Brianna, it all started to chip away at me. In the past, when I felt I couldn’t deal with everyday pressures, I usually turned to alcohol.
You can see from Episodes 1-4 that my aggressions and aggravations were building, and on Episode 4, it just all spilled over into one huge BOMB!
When I saw the episode, it was almost like watching a scene from The Incredible Hulk. When I’m sober, I act and even look different. I’m a totally different person — a mean Hulk of a person.
I’ve gotten nothing but support from new friends and fans out there, and I thank you very much for taking this journey with me and not turning your noses down. You’ve seen that there is more to me than just a raging alcoholic.
If you or someone you know has a problem with alcohol, drugs, etc., I hope that you will seek help like I did. It’s very hard to admit you have a problem, but just remember that if I can do it on NATIONAL TV, you should be able to confide in a friend or family member and get the help you need.
Thank you so much and I love you all so deeply.
Joey
May 15th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Dave is such a good friend to you! I admire you so much JOEY! just watching you, helped me to be stronger. You’re my role model. you’re a good person with a really kind heart, even with everything you’ve been through. I don’t blame you for blowing up, I wish I could be there to comfort you. I think that’s all you needed. You really do have A LOT of people that care about you, who can’t love a guy like you! you’re awesome!! You have a billion of people who do understand. stay strong!!!!!!!!! you’re my hero!!!! keep surrouding yourself around positive people who only wants the BEST FOR YOU. you are doing the right thing. Thanks for being a HERO!
May 15th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
i agree with Justin
-”if your religious stay in touch with God.”
staying in touch with GOD has definitely changed my life. 
love,
jt.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
what are those marks by your armpits joey???
May 16th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Thanx for introducing viewers to the REAL WORLD. It won’t be the same show without you. Oooooh NO.
May 16th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Those marks on his armpits are stretch marks from lifting too much weight. That black shirt with the sleeves cut off looks like a woman’s blouse.
May 16th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Hey Joey,
Your one of my favorites on the real world.
i look up too you and although you drink and everyhting i always look past the bad things and try to find everything thats good in a preson.
and i know deep down your a great guy and careing .im am so gald that you wanted to go to rehab,
and accepted it.
i’ve been through a ton in the past month,and its not easy im not gonna lie.
everytime i always go out with my friends to partys and stuff im always in the background because i dont wanna drink and be under the influence,So all of my friends pressure me to drink all the time and i hate it.
Well where im comming from is i do know hwo you feel and want you too know theres someone else out there who knows what your going through.
i wish the best for you and it would make my entire life if you typed me back.
ohh and get thoses 30 days over with so you can get back on the show.
good luck joey!
May 16th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
HEy I love the show and i understand y it would be so hard to watch the whole episode. You seemed to be truly genuine and sweet when u weren’t under the influence. i wish u the best of luck stay stong and i hope things get better because i have had a few addictions myself that were hard to overcome.
BEST OF LUCK 
May 16th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
hey joey i’m proud of you for taking the treatment that was offered it was the smart thing to do you gotta get back in the game brother the show needs you man :]
May 17th, 2008 at 1:36 am
All i want to say is that anyone can make a mistake or need help, and i admire the fact that one moment you were ready to leave the house and then when the opportunity to get help presnted itself, YOU TOOK IT READILY!!! Bravo to you Joey. I hope this works and i am pulling for you to return to the house much healthier. The fact that you were willing to go shows character and drive. Don’t be embarassed about anything. The only thing to be ashamed of is knowing you need help and not getting it. Look forward to your return buddy!!!!!!!!!!
May 17th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
We are all pulling for your success in life. DO THE DEAL!
May 18th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Joey, watching you on the show was like watching myself!!! I’m actually going through the same thing right now! It is hard to admit to having a problem, and excepting help! As well as, keeping the alcohol away!!! I’m seeking help too! You have so much going for yourself! You look amazing, and you have a good heart! Goodluck!:)
May 18th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Joey, you are really brave for admitting you have a problem I commend you. and you will be fine once you’re done with rehab good luck to you, may all of your dreams come true
May 19th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Joey,
Im so happy that you were able to admit that you have a problem with alcohol and were able to be man enough to get help for it. I wish that my boyfried was like that. He just ignores what i say along with his mother and grandparents. I wish that he would get help on it. But Im really proud of the fact that you are able to get the help that you need. You are so hot and funny and seem like a really nice guy, someone that i would really like to get to know. Good Job Joey!!!
May 19th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
So when you get out of rehab and go back to the house. Then what? The other roommates will still want to go out and party, but will they be able to? How could they? Will they leave poor Joey at home while they go out and PARTY! Or will they have to stay home because they’ll want to support your sobriety? You came out to L.A. to go to rahab? People who can’t hang, shouldn’t party.
May 19th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
JOEY! =] you are an amazing person, and ive loved you since the show started. i just watched the episode where you got sent to rehab, and i am glad you did. im excited to see what happens when you come back to the show, i know you are a better person then that. i am so glad you are getting help, keep strong and be the good person you are.
May 19th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Dude, you are hot! Like seriously, its hard for me to look at you. I am happy your doing something better for your health, best of luck! xoxo
May 20th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Hello there Joey,
I watch the show alot when I seen you step forward and tell your roomates about your problem. It brought me back to the day when I had to tell my family and friends about mine. It nearly took my family away from me and all of my friends I had left. But if it wasn’t for my mom standing by me and God I won’t be hear today to tell my story and help others, So many young kids think it’s ok do have a drink or a drug but don’t realize what comes with it. I’m glad your getting the help again. I too have fallen a time or two but you know my family is there to help and God. So just know your in my prayers and your family, And I hope all the young kids and adults watching the show understand how much this can control your life if it’s not helped.
So wish you the best and can’t wait to see you on the show soon. And thanks very much for sharing with us about your life story, I hope alot of people take a step like you did,
God Bless
May 21st, 2008 at 12:26 am
I just want to say that I am really happy that you got help. I too am a recovering alcoholic. I have been sober 46 days and every day is a struggle. I admire your strength to admit your problems on national television and I wish you the best of luck, I hope that everything works out in the end.
May 21st, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Joey you act way to hard bro. Always walking around flexing and trying to scare people. If I was on that show we would have already got in a fight. And it would not have been good for you bra.
June 7th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Joey…you’re the man!!plain and simple i love you dude!!I myself have been in a rehabilitaion facility in alabama recently and i know how hard it is to squash an alcohol and drug addiction.and it takes a true man to admit you have a problem on national TV, and i know you have the will power, strength and motivation to squash the habit.keep up the good work man and know that im behind you
June 9th, 2008 at 4:06 am
I hope you achieve your goal of sobriety. I think some of your roomates are incredibly selfish…especially when Bri refers to helping you as “owing you”. People get many opportunities to make a difference in other lives and they have missed the boat on this one. Good luck to you and bless.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Joey,
I lost an amazing friend to cocaine. He also started out with steroids and moved on to alcohol and cocaine when he moved to Vegas. He moved out to Vegas to persue his training for MMA fighting. I spoke to him often and he was so sweet to everyone. He was scheduling fights all over and doing well. Or so I thought. He would tell me he wasn’t into the party scene out there and that he was training hard for some big fights. Well in Feb. 2006 I was told they found him dead in his house. I NEVER knew or suspected him into such hard stuff. The man I knew never did that. I was touched and moved to tears when you read your goodbye letter. I only could wish my friend made the same choice. You are so incredible and strong to fight and conquer something so powerful. Thank you Joey for sharing everything with us. You have touched so many people. You truly are an inspiration.
June 12th, 2008 at 12:09 am
Joey, i am very happy that you decided to take full charge and help yourself while you could. You are a good role-model, getting the help you need, i’m sure you’ve changed people’s thoughts & choices on drugs and alcohol. I hope you accomplish your dreams & stay strong. It’s a tough & crazy world but you proved to everyone that anyone can achieve their goals if they really put their mind to it.
June 12th, 2008 at 12:12 am
I was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, and it seamed like drugs in school and amongst the party scene was normal. I myself never got sucked in at an early age like almost all of my friends…For me it was in my early 20’s. I am whole heartedly proud of Joey for going to rehab and leaving the house. I am 27 and have been battling an addiction to pain killers for the past 5/6 years. I could completely sympathize with the pain-mental & physical, disappointment of all your dreams disappearing, broken relationships-friends and family, and just losing complete control of everything you have worked your entire life for and feeling as if waking up another day is more difficult and painful then living. With an addiction like what Joey and I have, life certainly gets away. So far away that I was ready each day to let it go. I have always been the bubbly, social butterfly who draws a crowd…that is what I have been used to my whole life. When I was battling my addiction I lost complete value of who I was and what my purpose was on this earth. I hate to say it but Joey is right when he says no body understands. Very few people really and truly understand how horrible it is to have one stupid substance run your whole life. Control? People think that any person can control their actions and if they put it in their mind to stop they can. NO!!!NO!!!NO!!! An addiction controls YOU>>> I have a ton of awards from school, I was Student Government Secretary in College, I tutored disabled children, I was a youth group leader and I started the Christian Club at my old college. When I became addicted to pain med…all that GONE!!! I was so ashamed of myself that I kept to myself. I became a hermit that nobody (including my loved ones) wanted to be around. I was good at putting on a show, but inside I dreaded waking up because I had no idea who I was anymore. My addiction took my entire identity. I got addicted because I got into a car accident and I was given a ton of the strongest pain killers made. I learned through rehab and counseling to let go, but I often still get pissed thinking about the fact that I never even intended on getting a high or abusing my meds. It just happened to be that my body got so used to the strongest pain meds around. It took away my pain, it maid me feel normal and one day I woke up…a couple days…months…years later and I the only thing I enjoyed and looked forward to was my pain meds. It’s a horrible, tainted, disappointing, scary, shameful and messed up thing…I cry sometimes in disagree because I’ve lost some of the best years of my life. When I hit rock bottom, as Joey…After countless explosions(because I lost touch with my identity), black outs, my bank account emptied, horrible withdraw from being out of meds, and much more degrading and bad times, I hit solid, black, rock bottom… Through this all I turned my head from God, my loved ones and family…too ashamed to face anyone including and especially myself…I always prayed. I prayed every night for God to pull me out of the deepest hole that had no light. Trying to put the endless pain, suffering and hell I have lived through in the past 5/6 years can’t possibly be put into words…I’m trying my best…Joey I would love to get in touch with you…I know how you feel, I have been there. I have only been clean for about 3 months…Still trying to regain the past 27 years of my life. Since I lost touch with who I was, what I knew, what I believe in and what I stand for…I wouldn’t wish what we are going through on my worst enemy. I pray that everyone who ever has touched this horrible disease be carried by God and his grace and be HEALED. And for those who just can’t seem to find the light in their big black cloud of addiction…Every free moment, every morning you wake up and every time you lay down to sleep ask God to deliver you from what is holding you down. Ask God to heal your mind, body and spirit. It was purely a miracle that saved me…I really did live minute to minute wishing I could just end it all…I’m praying for you all!