Source: People.com

Meredith Phillips started her reality TV stint in 2003 where she was turned down by Bob Guiney. Her ultimate goal in the 2004 season of The Bachelorette was to find her future husband. She and Ian McKee broke up in 2005.

Meredith isn’t looking for love anymore. Now, her goal is to stay sober.

The self-proclaimed alcoholic revealed her struggles to People magazine. She was dealing with alcoholism until recently, and is still on a journey to recovery.

Reality Low Point

At her lowest point, she finished more than 20 bottles of wine a week.

“But I realized I was going to kill myself. There wasn’t another path for me other than to stop.”

At that low point 6 months ago she realized that she needed help. Now she is focusing on a healthy lifestyle. As she marks 150 days sober, she admits, “I’m finally starting to live my life again.”

Reality Stars in Trouble

Meredith Phillips isn’t the only reality TV star to experience substance addiction. “Jersey Shore” and “The Real World” alumni have checked in and out of rehab.

We’re glad to see Meredith share her story with the public. Maybe her addiction and rehab will inspire others to get help.

Meredith took the steps to get help and enter rehab. While she has plenty of challenges ahead of her, she is making steps everyday to enjoy a sober life. It is our hope that others will follow her example.

Get Help.

If you’re worried about addiction, get alcohol tests at ARCpoint Labs. From there you can decide how to best change your life.

Drinking, driving & disorderly conduct

On April 19, at approximately 3:30 am, Witherspoon, 37, and Toth, 42, were pulled over in Atlanta, Ga. The officer believed Toth, who was driving, had been drinking and began a sobriety test. As the test was being conducted, Witherspoon, still in the car, began to hang out of the window. She told the officer she didn’t believe we was a real policeman and was told to sit in the seat and remain quiet.

Witherspoon persisted, asking the officer if he knew who she was and telling him he was about to find out when he made national news… which he did when he arrested the couple. Toth was booked with a DWI. Witherspoon was booked with disorderly conduct. She’s set to appear in court on May 22.

Damage control mode

What popular actresses doesn’t have a punch in her good reputation every once in awhile? Whitney, Lindsey, Amanda … Reese has joined the club. Even a lawyer like Elle Woods wouldn’t get her out of this.

Her reputation with the public may take a major hit in the coming months, but where she’ll have to do the most explaining is with her three children, which she is fearful of, as any mother trying to create an example would be.

She has apologized to her fans and is extremely embarrassed. Now – we just hope she (and her husband) put their sorrows to action.

Witherspoon has probably learned her lesson. Learn yours and get drug tests from ARCpoint Labs. Find the ARCpoint Labs location near you.

Relapse

Recently, rumors swirled that Osbourne and his wife, Sharon, were getting a divorce because of his drug use but Ozzy is prepared to fight for his wife. Regardless, he relapsed, and he’s not proud of it. He appeared adamant that he’s back on the correct path and ready to take his life back. He said on his Facebook page:

“For the last year and a half I have been drinking and taking drugs. I was in a very dark place and was an a**hole to the people I love most, my family. However, I am happy to say that I am now 44 days sober.”

He also wanted to put to bed the rumors about his marriage:

“Just to set the record straight, Sharon and I are not divorcing. I’m just trying to be a better person. I would like to apologize to Sharon, my family, my friends and my bandmates for my insane behavour during this period… and my fans.

God bless, Ozzy.”

Ozzy Owns It

Too many celebrities today have issues with drugs and choose to ignore them. It seems Ozzy had his fill. He’s owning his relapse and is ready to tackle the issues associated with it. Though he’s been through rehab before, we hope he can get clean again and fix what is damaged.

For a long time, we loved watching Ozzy on TV. It would be a sham if he wasn’t able to make appearances anymore because he’s put himself in danger. Let’s hope that 44 days is just the beginning of a long streak.

We wish Ozzy the best and we wish you the best as well. Drug tests from ARCpoint Labs can help you stay on the road to sobriety and drug-free living. Find the ARCpoint Labs location near you and get the drug testing you need.

Smoking in Vietnam and beyond

Fans may not know that Stone was an infantryman in Vietnam. He’s been smoking regularly since those days, acknowledging that Vietnam, Thailand, Jamaica or any other countries don’t produce the same “quality” of marijuana as the United States.

“There’s good weed everywhere in the world, but my God, these Americans are brilliant,” Stone said, last year, in an interview with the Huffington Post. “It can be done. It can be done legally, safely, healthy, and it can be taxed and the government can pay for education and stuff like that. Also, you can save a fortune by not putting kids in jail.”

Stone’s influence on peers

Last year, Stone’s film Savages was released. The story followed two California marijuana dealers as they ventured to save their “shared girlfriend” from a ruthless drug cartel. It seems Stone’s opinions shared by the actors that star in his films. Actress Salma Hayek talked about the legalization of marijuana.

“Yeah, marijuana, if it’s legalized and controlled,” Hayek said. “Some of the other drugs that are on the market are really, really dangerous. The legal drugs. That your doctor can prescribe. And they can kill you with it slowly.”

Opinion Leaders

Stone isn’t new the game. He knows that his opinions can influence people simply by being in the spotlight, but as we said before, this is a man who has been in the spotlight for years.

We ask that people who follow Stone and other celebrities think critically about what they say. We don’t want you getting into trouble because Oliver Stone advocates marijuana use. People seem to overlook the dangers of marijuana use, claiming it isn’t harmful when it really is.

Be informed. Be proactive. Just because Oliver Stone says it’s okay, doesn’t mean it is.

Are you in need of a drug test from ARCpoint Labs. Find the right location near you. Let professionals get you the help you need to continue your healthy, drug-free life.

Justin’s Trippin’

Timberlake recently attended his first South by Southwest Show (SXSW). In the interview with MySpace, the singer-turn-actor reminisced on his days at Coachella, a similar concert:

“I’ve been to Coachella many times but not remembered a lot of it, I’ll leave it at that. But I remember I used to go to Coachella a long time ago. I remember Coachella when there wasn’t, like, paparazzi and stuff there. Like, I stood in an open field and one year I saw Nine Inch Nails and the next year I saw Weezer, and I was standing in the middle of the field, you know, like tripping my mind out.”

Timberlake didn’t seem too apologetic of his actions. In fact it isn’t just hallucinogens Timberlake has taken part in. He’s dabbled in marijuana use.

“The only thing pot does for me is it gets me to stop thinking,” Timberlake told Playboy in 2011. “Sometimes I have a brain that needs to be turned off. Some people are just better high.”

Isn’t Timberlake a role model?

These quotes coming from Timberlake are hard to hear because so many people look up to him. It isn’t just the drug use that gets our goat, but the unapologetic attitude.

Timberlake admits that his latest album, The 20/20 Experience is riddled with drug references.

Timberlake is a talented guy. We hope he cuts out this behavior before it gets the best of him.

Drug use isn’t something to take lightly. Get off drugs with the help from ARCpoint Labs. Find the right location near you and make the positive change in your life.

Iron Man 2 producer Jon Favreau dedicated the film to him.

Who was Goldstein?

Goldstein scratched records for a number of celebrities, including Will Smith, Madonna, and Jay Z. He worked private events and became popular in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York. Goldstein produced a number of songs and DJ mixes. He gained popularity when he dated socialite Nicole Ritchie.

Despite his music, people knew Goldstein for his struggle with drugs. As he described it, he would deejay until 2 am, go get drugs and abuse them until daylight. A failed suicide attempt (his gun jammed) opened his eyes (source). He avoided drugs and alcohol for years before his unfortunate death.

Goldstein’s death

On August 28, 2009, after missing a show, Goldstein was found dead in his New York City apartment. Authorities found him with eight undigested OxyContin pills in his stomach and a ninth in his mouth. Cocaine, Levamisole (a drug commonly used to cut cocaine), oxycodone (the active ingredient in OxyContin), hydrocodone (a powerful pain reliever), Ativan, Klonapin and Xanax were all found in his system (source). It was ruled an accidental overdose.

Months prior to his death, Goldstein was one of the only survivors in a plane crash. His friend and famous drummer Travis Barker survived as well, but the two were badly burned. Goldstein was reported as having difficulties recovering emotionally, which may have led him back to drug use.

Hard lessons

We don’t wish Goldstein’s trouble or the circumstances of his death on anyone. His struggle teaches several lessons.

A main one? You can change. Had the gun not jammed during his suicide attempt, Goldstein wouldn’t have realized his worth and gotten off drugs.

Unfortunately, the tragic plane crash allegedly led him back to drugs. It is our hope that if you need help dealing with issues, seek safe therapies and avoid drugs.

If you’re struggling with drug addiction, there is a way out. Our friends at ARCpoint Labs can help.

Haley’s DUI

There is certainly cause for concern when a child sees ghosts. I think parents would be very concerned if that was the case. But that’s a just movie. Haley Joel Osment‘s parents were probably more concerned when their 18-year-old son crashed his car into a mailbox, flipping it over. His blood-alcohol level? Twice the legal limit. Oh – and he was in possession of marijuana.

In the end, Osment was lucky to escape the accident with a few broken ribs and the three charges.

Just a bump in the road

Though we can’t say this isn’t sad, this was just a bump in the road for Osment. It hasn’t tarnished his reputation or ruined his movie career (though we don’t see him starring in many recent roles.) This is just a lesson Osment learned the hard way, as so many young stars do, unfortunately.

Haley plead no contest to his charges and was sentenced to 60 days alcohol rehab, three months in Alcoholics Anonymous, fined $1500 and put on three years probation (source). As a first time offender his punishment wasn’t extremely severe, but it wasn’t something anyone ever desires. And it seems to have worked, for now. The actor’s avoided trouble since 2006.

We’re sure Haley would have rather avoided this situation altogether.

If you think you’re at risk, but want to avoid a situation like this, contact our friends at ARCpoint Labs. They’ll help you get on the right track.

Since then, Shia has built a bad boy image for himself, as well as the reputation of a dedicated actor. But how dedicated is too dedicated? Perhaps dropping acid for a role is the answer to that question.

Shia’s new film

Shia wanted to create a realistic portrayal for his role in the upcoming Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman. His character experiences acid trips so the actor, studying his craft, decided to give it a whirl.

“There’s a way to do an acid trip like Harold & Kumar, and there’s a way to be on acid,” he said. “What I know of acting, Sean Penn actually strapped up to that (electric) chair in Dead Man Walking. These are the guys that I look up to.” (source)

Extremely Dangerous Practice

Though we love movies and great acting, we can’t get behind Shia on this one. LSD is simply too dangerous. LSD side effects can include: nausea and loss of appetite; increased blood sugar, heart rate and blood pressure; sleeplessness; dry mouth and tremors. One long-term effect of LSD: depression.

We like you, Shia. We’ve seen you make some great movies in the past. For a twenty-something, we hope you have a lot of good movies ahead. We think it’s great that you want to excel in your chosen profession. But acid trips aren’t okay with us.

You’re in the spotlight. You starred in movies that kids watch, and for that, they look up to you. We know you want to be a great actor. Just find another way to get into character.

If you’re looking to break addition from drugs and alcohol, our friends at ARCpoint Labs can help. Find your nearest ARCpoint Labs today.

Speaking of comedies about drinking too much… did you know Tyson was high the entire time he was on set of 2009′s The Hangover?

Tyson’s movie cameo

Tyson’s performance in The Hangover was pretty stellar, probably due to the fact he played himself. He gave a memorable cameo to audiences. So memorable that he was later featured in The Hangover Part 2 will be in Part 3. It might not be as memorable to Tyson however, he later lamented why:

“I was a mess. I was overweight. I was a pig, high on cocaine,” Tyson said. “[The actors and crew] had to know I was messed up. I couldn’t talk. I had the cocaine talk.” (source)

Tyson’s history with drugs

Sad to think a famous athlete struggled with drugs, but that is Tyson’s story. What seemed like an awesome cameo to audiences was just a way for Tyson to pay for cocaine. Hard to believe coming from a heavyweight champ…. then again these days nothing surprises us when it comes to professional athletes and drug use.

Drugs are nothing new to Tyson. Authorities convicted him of possession of cocaine and a DUI in 2007. He  checked into rehab shortly after.

Perhaps Tyson laments his drug use during the first movie because the cast and crew have provided much-needed support:

“So those guys are just beautiful people. They had my back, and I appreciate that and stuff, then they asked me to come back [for the Hangover Part 2],” said Tyson.

Get it straight, Mike!

Perhaps Mike Tyson isn’t the greatest role model in the world. His life is a bit tarnished by a failed and violent marriage. He has a history with drugs, as mentioned above, and a violent past as well.

But there is a glimmer of hope for the man. He has stayed out of trouble for a good amount of time and we’re glad he regrets being high in The Hangover. We are hopeful his future appearances will show him clean.

Don’t be like Mike… Tyson, that is. Our friends at ARCpoint Labs offer drug testing that can get you back on your feet. Knock the habit before it knocks you out. Find the nearest ARCpoint Labs to you.

Sorkin’s Drug Addiction

Behind all his excellent work, however, is a man who has had very real and very public struggles with drug addiction. He struggled with cocaine in the 90s, resulting in rehab and then a relapse in 2001. As a drug addict, Sorkin’s take on rehab is interesting and quite scary:

“I had no intention of rehab working. I just thought it would be good to put 28 days between me and drugs. There were fortune cookie sayings on the walls at Hazelden, and I’m not susceptible to those things. But I’ve never seen anything work as well.” (source)

Sorkin gives a real insight into his mindset during his addiction and how he saw opportunities to use when he had time.

“Julia [his wife at the time] was away, and I had a window where I could fly to Vegas on a Friday, get high all night, and then return to L.A. the next day. I’d do this three times a year, and it was amazing I never got caught.”

His Regrets

Sorkin was arrested at a checkpoint in 2001. In his possession was hallucinogenic mushrooms, rock cocaine, and marijuana (source). At the time he was writing for The West Wing, and continued to do so. His felony drug charges were dropped when he was ordered to go back to rehab. Sorkin got lucky.

Sorkin, naturally, wished he’d never tried drugs. He knew he was going down a path he never wished to be on. He feared that his work would suffer because drugs were part of his writing routine (source). Luckily, in the now, more than ten years of sobriety, Sorkin can still function as a writer, and even won an Academy Award for his work on The Social Network.

Get Help. Don’t get lucky.

Not everyone can have the good fortune of going to rehab like Sorkin did, especially after felony drug charges. The best thing to do is not get yourself in this position. Get tested for drugs at any of the ARCpoint Labs locations. Let us help you kick your habit to the curb before it takes a toll on your life.

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