Dr. Drew: Britney Is Dying Before Our Eyes

TV Addiction Guru Says Pop Star Is Following "Anna Nicole" Blueprint

(CBS)  Celebrity addiction expert Dr. Drew Pinsky is weighing in on Britney Spears' problems, saying that the pop star could die if she doesn't get the help she needs.

Although the doctor has never treated Spears personally, he told Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show Tuesday, "We are watching somebody who is following the Anna Nicole Smith blueprint to the letter. She's keeping people around her that allow her to keep using and that supports her denial.

"She leaves the country, like Anna Nicole, she keeps using; she doesn't follow directions of people."

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Photos: Britney Spears

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Spears was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center by paramedics Jan. 10, after police were called to her home because of a custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline over their two young sons. She checked herself out of the hospital two days later.

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Timeline: Britney's Meltdown

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According to Pinsky, California law does not force drug and alcohol users to remain in treatment long enough to get the help they need.

"You can also only be held against your will for a very short period of time and if you refuse to follow up and take treatment, you're within your right to do that - even if it's killing you. This is a serious medical problem," he said. "This young lady - she is dying in front of our eyes. She needs physician care regularly for a sustained period of time."

Pinsky, who's head of the Department of Chemical Dependency Services at Pasadena's Las Encinas Hospital and star of the VH1 reality show "Celebrity Rehab," says he would use a treatment plan similar to one that may be helping another troubled star.

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Photos: Standoff At Britney's

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"If I were to treat her, I'd put her in 4-6 weeks of an intensive program in a psychiatric hospital and a year of a residential program very much like what Lindsay Lohan did," he said.

2On Monday, a Superior Court commissioner decided to uphold an earlier order suspending Spears' visitation rights to her two sons. Spears was at the courthouse for the hearing, but left before even entering the building. Another hearing is scheduled for Feb. 19.

Spears was "trembling," according to the head of a paparazzi agency who says he spoke with the pop star's new boyfriend.

Sheeraz Hasan, founder and CEO of Hollywood.TV, told Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen Tuesday that he'd spoken with Spears' new beau, photographer Adnan Ghalib, as the media crush was unfolding Monday.

Hasan says Ghalib told him Spears was "really nervous" and "really panicking" when she was being mobbed by the media at the courthouse, and opted to skip the hearing and go to church, feeling she had, at that instant, "no one to turn to, except God."

[thebbc2]

Celebrity Docs warn us of the dangers, the public argues over who''s to blame, but what is anyone doing?

http://PrayersforBritney.com is a (non religious) social movement aimed at taking back the media by relaying positive messages. We''re joining up in massive numbers in a petition to a stop to the medias negetive influence on our culture. No one can argue that this whole thing is tragic, whichever side you fall.

Its a social movement with sweeping implications - pleases stop by, read about the effort, post a message and spread the good word!

http://prayersforbritney.com

[thebbc2]

Celebrity docs warn us of the dangers, the public argues over who''s to blame, but what is anyone doing?

http://PrayersforBritney.com is a (non religious) social movement aimed at taking back the media by relaying positive messages. We''re joining up in massive numbers in a petition to a stop to the medias negetive influence on our culture. No one can argue that this whole thing is tragic, whichever side you fall.

Its a social movement with sweeping implications - pleases stop by, read about the effort, post a message and spread the good word!

http://prayersforbritney.com

[themombiatch]

I''m not really one to make excuses for the poor little rich people, but this is truly a very sad case. This woman has been used and exploited for pretty much her whole life, and people are wondering why she''s this way? The pic of her strapped to a gurney changed my mind about her; she needs help. She really is dying right in front of us, and all anyone can do is take pictures and laugh at her. Sad and shameful.

[gurna22]

I feel for this woman. She has not been getting special treatment as so many people say. I have seen so many children who are being abused by parents, or "raised" by alcoholics/drug addicts handed back to the parents with no more than a "watch yourself". There are many things that parents do that later on they say "*** what was I thinking, I shouldnt have done that" the only diference is there is not a camera following us around to catch our every mistake. I think at this moment it is in the childrens best interest to not see their mother in an unsupervised setting, but a complete seperation causes more trauma on all sides. What needs to happen is that she needs to have intreatment therapy and get on some meds, she is more than likely not able to make sound, logical decisions right now. She needs support, the more critisism she gets the more desperate and out of control she will get. Also for everyone who keeps bringing her money into this, what does it have to do with anything? Does it mean she would or should be a better parent? Shouldnt have the same fears or relationship issues? Just because someone has money doesnt make them any better or different than any of us, they still have the same character flaws/conditions as people who are financially less fortunate.

[gmond]

Dr. Drew needed a payday.

[sbroyles3]

Have we Americans reached the point of selfishness that we are incapable of sympathizing with a person that needs some simple tender loving care and help. If any of the rest of us were bombarded with only 10% of the pressures that Ms. Spears faces every time she goes into public, we would rush to a mental ward. Come on people, at least have enough heart to take a moment to hope this young lady can get herself together and have a healthy and happy life. I assume you would want others to wish the same for you - so why can you not have the heart to wish this for Ms. Spears.

[hypnotoad72]

Your brain controls your behavior, and when you have a brain disorder, it''''s very difficult to control your behavior. She needs treatment, not your nasty and judgmental remarks.

Posted by anastasia76
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We do not need to be patronized. Most of us are well aware of psychiatric illnesses. We also understand preferential and liberal treatment given to celebrities.

Indeed, you''re also assuming she has a brain to begin with...

[hypnotoad72]

I can think of scores of people who''ve never one played the games this Britney "woman" has and they won''t get any the coverage she is.

I''m going to bite my tongue, but I''m still going to say the media has its values and morals in all the wrong places.

And as said, she''s got millions. Why waste that money (and time) on children she obviously does not want? She chose to end a marriage lasting 55 hours. Her life is a freak show and a game, of her sole choosing.

I''m sorry. It''s just a tad difficult to find compassion for her. I do on a rudimentary level, but I''m not going to end up feeling like a used lollipop either. Sucker.

[santos66]

I agree 1000% with you mercyme884 !!!!! I think Britney needs to just " dissappear " for a year or 2, let all this negative press run it''s course BUT, SHE created all the negative press and has no one to blame but herself.
There are hundreds and hundreds of American''s military being killed over in Iraq but Britney is the talk of the town, this is so effed up !!! All we are hearing is Britney, Britney, Britney etc....I am SO over Britney.
This woman ( Britney ) has 2 children and its rare that you hear about them anymore. WHO is taking care of these children? Britney''s dysfunctional family, you know the family I am talking about, the family with the 15 year old pregnant child? Her ex, K-Fed is himself just a child.
This whole mess makes me sick and it is so sad because you have to wonder about the well being about those children and now I am hearing that she missed , yet ANOTHER court date?
If this was average Joe Public, the judge would throw our ***** in jail for at least 2 years and also given us a $ 50,000 fine PLUS 800 hours community service...now tell me that celebrities don''t get preferential treatment ???
Grow up Britney and get some focus on your life, your #1 priority should be those children, and NOT about the number of sales from the recent album !!!
Enough said, I am done wasting my time talking about this mess of a woman.
Peace and Love to you all !!!
Ricky

[anastasia76]

Um, listen, you morons. Britney Spears has a mental illness. Actually, more likely, TWO mental illnesses. Drug dependency and bipolar disorder. Your brain controls your behavior, and when you have a brain disorder, it''s very difficult to control your behavior. She needs treatment, not your nasty and judgmental remarks.

Morons. Especially that woman who has to give her kid insulin shots--you''d think you''d be a little more sympathetic towards people who have chronic illnesses. Moron.

[mercyme884]

SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT MS.SPEARS BUT UNTIL SHE DECIDES TO CHANGE HER HABITS AND STRAIGHTEN UP HER ACTIONS THERE WILL NOT BE ANY VISIBLE ACTS TO BE SEEN. SHE IS A SPOILED BRAT THAT CARES NOTHING FOR HER CHILDREN OR HERSELF. SHE NEEDS TO GROW UP AND STRAIGHTEN HER MISERABLE LIFE OUT BEFORE SHE EVER SEES OR HAS ANY CONTACT WITH THOSE PRECIOUS CHILDREN. GROW UP MS SPEARS

[jlee2027]

The problem isn''t Britney it''s the idea that a 26 year old person has to face the lying corrupt fools of family court. Because once they nail you, there''s no escape. It''s 18 years of torture. Think waterboarding is bad? It''s absolutely nothing compared to the mind numbling sinister manipulations that occur designed to destory your family and your children. Remove Family Court, and somehow Britney, while loving to party too much, is fairly normal for a 26 year old.

[lil_d3vil]

Everyone keeps saying Britney''s tested clean..

Do people really believe that tripe?
So with all the New privacy laws in place her personal physician is going to risk his job to tell celebrity rags there are no drugs in her system. I don''t think so.

You can put anyone in rehab,BUT they have to want to be helped to get over their addiction or once out they will go right back to their old ways. Obviously Britney isn''t there yet.

[leeann2008]

I just don''t get it.. maybe because I do not know her and live her life personally.. but come on.. let her live a life where she would really be depressed and want to give up. She has millions of dollars, she could have everything she wants. Let her switch shoes with a mother who has to give her child injections of insulin everyday so he can live, let her deal with financial struggles and the uncertainity of when and if her husband will come home from fighting for his country. She should be grateful that she has no financial worries, two heathly boys and people who want to help her. I don''t buy it BRITNEY!!!! Your career is in a slump and you are doing all this for attention. Get some help and for God''s sake take a shower!

[olga75-2009]

Dear Dr.Pinsky,
If your treatments were working (including Lindsay Lohan), then it would make sense to place people into institutions. Since they don''t, not even close, you are wasting people''s money and time. You are unsuccessful in what you do. This is my first point.
The second one is that someone pays huge bucks for Britney to be in the front line news, and distract people from a mass that''s happening in American government. All this is called diplomacy, and you, doctor, are just bullsh...ing people. Get lost, really.

[frb01]

Unless you have been there, the general public doesn''t understand mental illness and or addiction, which often go together. Most think you just snap out of it. And these talking heads with MD degrees, don''t help the situation. Like Duh, yes she could die from this and no-one would be laughing. She needs a true mental health profession to intervene on her behalf, not someone who is in it for their own agenda. Thousands of Americans deal with mental illness every day and struggle with it outside the public eye, it is not easy.

[keithle1]

Why did she have kids? Obviously wasn''t ready for them? Federline wasn''t the love of her life. Being a mother was the last thing she needed. Can''t even take care of yourself. Thinks that just because whe''s a female with a working uterus, she should have kids. Like it''s all going to be fun & games. No sacrifice or hard work on her part.

If she was into Scientology, Tom Cruise would be prescribing vitamins.

[realtalk5950]

So u mean she did nothing to "physically injure" her kids...

[samthetvcat]

"Anna Nicole didn''t seem to do anything that endangered her kids (?)" posted by SamTheTVCat

You mean a drug addicted mother isn''''t a danger to her kids? "

Posted by erasmus6 at 04:28 PM : Jan 15, 2008

No I mean she didn''t ever dangle her kids over a rail or drop them on the head requiring child services investigations . . .

[erasmus6]

"Anna Nicole didn''''t seem to do anything that endangered her kids (?)" posted by SamTheTVCat

You mean a drug addicted mother isn''t a danger to her kids?