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01/31/2008: "You Knew This Was Coming ..."
For the second time in less than a month, singer Britney Spears was taken by ambulance from her Hollywood Hills home to a local hospital for "psychological evaluation." Unlike the last event, which resulted from Spears' refusal to give back her kids after a visitation session, this appears to have been a long-planned intervention, one driven by her psychiatrist's fears for Spears' safety.
The police had to shoo 20 to 25 people (presumably paparazzi and future boyfriends) away from the front of her residence earlier in the evening, and the convoy taking her to the hospital was nearly 100 yards long - primarily to provide a buffer between the pop star and the photogs.
According to her mother, Spears is currently at UCLA Medical Center under a "mental evaluation hold", which allows her to be held for 72 hours, even against her will. TMZ.com is reporting that the process was initiated by her psychiatrist after a visit with her yesterday afternoon, and that the hold could be extended as long as 14 days if necessary. It also appears that the family is rallying around Spears, and trying to separate her from some of the vile influences that have helped drag her down in recent months. It remains to be seen what will happen next, or if this truly represents the first step in a real recovery.
I hate to sound like that viral video, but it's time to "leave Britney Spears alone." A big part of her problem is that her biggest addition is to the adoration of others, even if the only ones providing it to her are the same paparazzi that are sucking the life out of her. For her own sake, and to preserve any possibility of regaining some kind of relationship with her children, she needs to be separated from the public - forcibly, if necessary. We know that standard rehab won't work, as she spent a month trying it last year. This time, serious mental health professionals need to take the lead and do what it takes to straighten her out.
UPDATE: Several sources are saying that part of the concern the shrink had was that Spears was using Adderall, a stimulant used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder, to keep herself awake - she hadn't slept since Sunday. In addition, she admitted to taking up to 10 laxatives a day (that explains all the late night drug store runs).
The problem could be worse, if you believe the National Enquirer:
Britney Spears had been on a 24-hour meth binge before she was rushed to the hospital, The NATIONAL ENQUIRER has learned exclusively. Ironically, she was desperately trying to stay awake - because she was terrified that if she fell asleep, her family would "drag her off to a mental institution," according to a close source. The drama began at 2 a.m. Wednesday when Britney and Sam Lutfi checked into the Beverly Hills Hotel and she began doing meth. In addition to her mental problems the ENQUIRER has learned that Britney is addicted to crystal meth, and details her addiction in a front page story this week. Meanwhile, her meth habit played a key role in her recent hospitalization and friends told her mother, Lynne, that she hadn't slept since last Saturday. Her drug-taking went on all day, interrupted only by brief dashes to her home. Secret arrangements for her hospitalization had been made - but no-one wanted it to happen at the hotel."
Remember - it's the Enquirer. They take smoke and turn it into a raging fire. But the fact is that there is smoke, so who knows how much of this just might be true ...
