'Intervention,' MTV-style

Drug abusers in MTV's target demo will soon have a new place to turn beyond A&E's "Intervention": an MTV show hosted by recovering addict Adam Goldstein -- a k a DJ AM --called "Gone Too Far" that will feature interventions and follow the subjects into rehab and beyond.

Goldstein, a Philly native who claims, among other things, to have been the world's only fat cocaine addict, at one point weighing more than 300 pounds, is slim and sober now, but describes his condition as having "an allergic reaction to drugs and alcohol -- I break out in handcuffs."

Besides addiction, Goldstein's reportedly survived, along with Blink-182's Travis Barker,  a September 2008 crash of a Learjet that killed four people. Other survival stories, not touched on in Wednesday's press conference at the Television Critics Association's summer meetings, reportedly include gastric bypass surgery and a high-profile engagement to Nicole Richie. But during the years he was using, he admits, "I would personally have run from a camera" from a show like "Gone Too Far."

"These people were all volunteers," he added.

And his role in interventions, he said, predated the show, which premieres Oct. 5. "The only thing that ever worked for me is when a recovering addict tried to help me...The only way I can keep it [sobriety] is if I give it away."

The DJ, who grew up in Center City, "near Rittenhouse Square," attended the Philadelphia School, Greenfield and Friends Central before moving to Los Angeles at 14.

"I love Philly. Philly has like more character and flavor than any city I've ever been to," he said. "I think energy kind of gets soaked into old buildings."

While admitting that "the bad things started in Philly," Goldstein said, "it got much worse when I left. I think it's just around that time, though -- 14, 15, I was just so insecure moving to a new city, trying to fit in, that I would do anything, you know, to be accepted and liked."