Nick Reiner’s struggles with dependancy and psychological well being didn’t start in maturity.
Lengthy earlier than his title turned tied to the surprising double-murder case, the son of legendary filmmaker Rob Reiner was despatched to an excessive wilderness remedy program in Utah.
What was meant to assist a troubled teenager might as an alternative have reshaped his path in devastating methods.
Former attendees, Nick himself, and even his mother and father have since questioned whether or not the expertise brought about extra hurt than therapeutic.
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Nick Reiner Was Despatched To Utah After Conventional Rehab Failed
Nick was simply 16 when his mother and father made the choice to enroll him in Second Nature, a wilderness remedy program positioned deep within the Utah backcountry.
On the time, he had stopped attending highschool and had already begun experimenting with medicine.
In line with this system’s web site, Second Nature makes use of a “nomadic backpacking method” designed to show adolescents the best way to face challenges straight.
For the Reiners, it gave the impression to be a final resort after extra conventional rehab facilities in Los Angeles and Malibu did not work.
Years later, Nick mirrored on the expertise throughout a 2016 look on the “Dopey” podcast.
He defined that it was throughout this program that he first met individuals who would later affect his drug use.
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“I went to a wilderness program in Utah. It was referred to as Second Nature,” he mentioned, recalling assembly one other teen from Los Angeles who later launched him to heroin.
Nick acknowledged that whereas this system uncovered him to a broader group of individuals, it additionally planted seeds that adopted him lengthy after he left.
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Nick Later Claimed Rehab Launched Him To Heroin
In his podcast interview, Nick Reiner described how the connections he made at Second Nature had long-lasting penalties.
After leaving this system, he reconnected with a former participant whereas residing in sober housing.
That reunion led him to Skid Row, the place he mentioned he was injected with heroin for the primary time.
Reflecting on that second, Nick acknowledged, “The purpose of the story is that the seed of heroin bought planted by the primary time I used to be ever in rehab, and the particular person I bought it from was a man that I met in rehab, like three years down the road.”
Whereas the screenwriter acknowledged that this system uncovered him to individuals exterior his privileged upbringing, he believed the harm outweighed the advantages.
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“For all of the unfavourable that I believe it did to me, it additionally uncovered me to a bigger demographic of individuals,” he admitted.
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Former Second Nature Attendees Describe Harsh Dwelling Circumstances
Two former Second Nature attendees who spoke with the Every day Mail provided disturbing accounts of life inside this system through the years Nick Reiner was enrolled.
Savanna Boda, who attended at age 15, described residing open air full-time through the freezing Utah winter.
“We did frostbite checks on our toes each hour,” she claimed, including that the chilly and isolation had been relentless.
Boda additionally mentioned contributors hiked as much as seven miles day by day whereas carrying heavy packs and had been solely allowed to wash each few days.
She alleged that meals was restricted to canned and freeze-dried meals and that heat relied on mastering a talent referred to as “busting a fireplace.”
When she failed, she mentioned she was positioned in “fireplace isolation” and denied scorching meals. Boda, who misplaced a pal from this system to suicide, additionally mentioned she believes boys had been handled extra harshly than ladies.
Whereas stressing that she doesn’t condone violence, Boda expressed sympathy for Nick’s struggling.
“I do know that he most likely went by means of quite a lot of ache, and I really feel unhealthy for his struggling and his coronary heart,” she mentioned.
One other former attendee, Margaret Lynd, echoed claims of emotional mistreatment, saying counselors referred to teenagers as “dust urchins” and lacked correct medical coaching.
She recalled her first day in this system, revealing that she was stripped bare and compelled to scrub her hair with lice shampoo. “I simply don’t really feel like these individuals care,” she mentioned.
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Nick Reiner’s Rehab Expertise Stays Deeply Contested
Second Nature has firmly denied the allegations made by Boda and Lynd, calling the claims “false and deceptive.”
A spokesperson informed the Every day Mail that this system is licensed, intently regulated, and centered on compassion and emotional security.
They famous that licensed therapists oversee care and that oldsters stay actively concerned all through remedy. Some on-line evaluations have additionally praised this system for its effectiveness.
A lady named Emma T, who attended Second Nature in 2006, wrote on Yelp that she got here into this system indignant, empty, addicted, and with out hope.
Nevertheless, throughout her time there, she realized extra about herself. In line with Emma, she knew the best way to talk about her emotions higher.
As well as, she made connections with wonderful individuals she relates with until date.
Nick Reiner’s Mother and father Later Expressed Remorse Over Rehab Choices
Rob Reiner has publicly acknowledged that he and his spouse, Michele, remorse how they dealt with their son’s remedy.
In line with The Hollywood Reporter, the director admitted they ignored the 32-year-old when he mentioned this system was not serving to.
“We had been determined, and since the individuals had diplomas on their wall, we listened to them after we ought to have been listening to our son,” he mentioned.
Michele added that they had been repeatedly informed Nick was mendacity or manipulating them, and so they believed it.
Nick later addressed this dynamic himself, explaining that worry typically drives mother and father’ choices.
“Mother and father, they get scared. They don’t wish to see their kids die, so that they soar the gun,” he mentioned.
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Regardless of all the pieces, he emphasised that he didn’t blame his mother and father, stating that dependancy finally comes down to private selection.
