Thomas Garofola

Not long after comedian Artie Lange checked into rehab to -- in his words -- save his life, he left a Pennsylvania addiction treatment center on Wednesday to perform at a comedy show in New Brunswick.

But when the show was over, he went straight back to spend Thanksgiving in the inpatient treatment facility.

An inpatient rehab program would traditionally not allow for patients to come and go, but in a series of tweets, Lange, who has struggled with addiction for decades, explained that he was permitted a brief detour from his treatment for a set at the Stress Factory. The comedian is facing possible jail time after a violation of his probation.

"Guess who's clean?!!' tweeted Lange (pictured at right above with "The Reverend" Bob Levy). "Been clean 18 days! The rehab I'm at let me use my phone to check things. I still have more time here but I'm doing great. I'm humble. Not bragging. Just feel well. Tons of work ahead. Sunrise detox in Sterling, NJ helped save my life!!! They're great!!!"

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Guess who’s clean?!! Been clean 18 days! The rehab I’m at let me use my phone to check things. I still have more time here but I’m doing great. I’m humble. Not bragging. Just feel well. Tons of work ahead. Sunrise detox in Sterling, NJ helped save my life!!! They’re great!! — Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 21, 2018

'Guess who's clean?!!'

Lange, 51, known for spending nearly a decade as a co-host on "The Howard Stern Show," went on to say that he is currently in rehab at Retreat, a facility in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The comedian reportedly violated the terms of his probation, testing positive for drugs -- cocaine and opioids -- twice in October. It remains to be seen what penalty Lange may face.

Last year, Lange pleaded guilty to heroin possession after police pulled him over on the Garden State Parkway and reported finding him with 81 decks of heroin. In June, state Superior Court Judge Nancy Sivilli sentenced him to four years of probation and 50 hours of community service, ordering Lange to enroll in outpatient rehab. Sivilli told Lange that this would be his last chance to avoid jail. She also said a doctor had warned Lange that he could die if he relapsed again.

The comedian told the judge that he would fare best with outpatient rehab because it would allow him to keep working and support his mother by performing stand-up routines and appearing on the HBO series "Crashing."

Later, the comedian, who lives in Hoboken and grew up in Union Township, announced that he was committing to an inpatient rehab program.

"I'm about to take a big step to help myself," he tweeted on Nov. 5. "To save my life."

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I’m at The Retreat by Lancaster PA. This place is a Godsend!They’re not payin me. No free stay. They do it right. I’m so grateful to them. The nurses are Angels. I’m not saying I will never relapse. I pray every day!! Just happy to be alive. I ain’t checkin out yet! I love u all! — Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 21, 2018 God. Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. The courage to Change the things I can. And the wisdom to know the difference. — Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 21, 2018 I’m allowed to work tonight. Then I’m going back to The Retreat. Be at The Stress Factory in New Brunswick NJ 730pm this evening. I have new stories from a crazy & misspent life. I will share them w u. The ppl I love. I’m 51. Gotta take it slow. Maybe the darkness is over!! — Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 21, 2018

Before he entered rehab, Lange had been performing shows alongside fellow stand-up comedian "The Reverend" Bob Levy. They were both in New Brunswick for the show on Wednesday night. In a joint interview with Lange for NJ 101.5 on Nov. 6, Levy, who has been taking pain medication after his car was by a drunk driver, suggested that he should also take advantage of a detox program.

Thomas Garofola, marketing officer for the Pennsylvania rehab facility where Lange has been spending his days, was also at the comedy show.

"This place is a Godsend!" Lange tweeted. "They're not payin me. No free stay. They do it right. I'm so grateful to them. The nurses are Angels. I'm not saying I will never relapse. I pray every day!! Just happy to be alive. I ain't checkin out yet! I love u all!"

"I'm allowed to work tonight," Lange continued. "Then I'm going back to The Retreat."

At the Stress Factory show, Lange, who had also tweeted the Serenity Prayer used in twelve-step programs, promised "new stories from a crazy & misspent life."

"I'm 51," he tweeted. "Gotta take it slow. Maybe the darkness is over!"

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On way back to rehab. Did show. Stayed clean. On way back. Another Thanksgiving inside someplace. Last one was jail. But I just killed for a huge crowd who felt like family. I’m fighting hard. Don’t count Artie Lange out. Love u. Be back by end of month. I’m smiling. Thx — Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 22, 2018

'Another Thanksgiving inside someplace'

Lange spoke to NJ Advance Media in July, after his sentencing, to promote his latest memoir, "Wanna Bet? A Degenerate Gambler's Guide to Living on the Edge."

In the book, Lange, who attempted suicide in 2010 during a break from his job on "Stern," describes a cloud and darkness that has followed him all his life.

"It's almost fully gone," he said at the time, saying he never really wanted to die. "I can't say fully because I'm just a depressive person."

In late October, Lange canceled a show with Levy in New York because he was hospitalized for what staff at Laugh it Up, a club in Fishkill, described as an infection.

Lange, who has often had to cancel shows because of health issues related to blood sugar spikes and related infections, has long contended with complications of diabetes. The comedian also underwent surgery on his nose. (After years of drug abuse and one accidental instance of snorting a crushed pain pill that contained glass, he says he has no septum.)

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Me with my driver@Robbie_Deadlifts back to The Retreat. Don’t say it. I know I look worse next to younger ppl. Great guy. Keepin me on track. pic.twitter.com/NImXG8kp3r — Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 22, 2018

Back to rehab

After the Stress Factory show on Wednesday, Lange said he was surrendering his phone, a condition of his reentry into rehab. But he sent out one last string of tweets before going dark (any more recent promotional tweets are the product of auto-scheduling).

"On way back to rehab," he tweeted. "Did show. Stayed clean. On way back. Another Thanksgiving inside someplace. Last one was jail. But I just killed for a huge crowd who felt like family. I'm fighting hard. Don't count Artie Lange out. Love u. Be back by end of month. I'm smiling. Thx"

Lange, who is also scheduled to perform at a show at the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill on Saturday, shared a selfie with his driver, Robbie Noonan, before heading back to rehab in Pennsylvania.

"Great guy," he said. "Keepin me on track."

The comedian has credited his latest stint in rehab to help from Kevin Meara, founder of Hamilton-based City of Angels, a nonprofit group that helps those who are coping with addiction and their families. In March, Meara attended an opioid summit at the White House.

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Have to hand phone in. Robbie asked if I knew Chris Farley. For 2 weeks in 1997 we did nothing but laugh in Toronto. Makin Dirty Work. Funniest guy I ever met. I hope he’s at peace. I hope I can avoid his end. Special guy. I will get my phone back when I get out of rehab. 143 pic.twitter.com/4PUrW8fsuf — Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 22, 2018

'I hope I can avoid his end'

Lange has said that he expects to return from rehab by the end of the month. He has additional shows scheduled for the first week of December on Long Island. The third season of "Crashing," in which Lange plays a version of himself opposite star Pete Holmes, is set to premiere on HBO Jan. 20. An episode that aired in February took on Lange's real-life struggles with addiction.

The comedian said Noonan, his driver, asked him if he knew Chris Farley, the "Saturday Night Live" star who died in 1997 of a cocaine and morphine (speedball) overdose when he was 33.

In response, Lange shared an old photo of himself with the actor, who appeared alongside Lange and Norm Macdonald in (an uncredited role in) the 1998 comedy "Dirty Work," directed by Bob Saget.

"For 2 weeks in 1997 we did nothing but laugh in Toronto," Lange tweeted. "Makin Dirty Work. Funniest guy I ever met. I hope he's at peace. I hope I can avoid his end."

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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.