Lindsay Lohan argued that further drug treatment would be 'damaging to her career,' report states

Actress Lindsay Lohan claimed continued inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation would be a financial hardship and "damaging to her career," according to a report prepared and submitted to the court this week by the Los Angeles County Probation Department.

Even so, Lohan's probation officer recommended that the actress, known for her roles in "Mean Girls," "The Parent Trap" and "Freaky Friday," continue her treatment for 120 days.

"Reports from all treatment professionals agree that inpatient treatment appears to be the most appropriate option for the defendant at this time," the report states. "Possibly removing herself from her lifestyle and it's pressures for an extended period of time is exactly what is needed to preserve her health."

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Elden Fox agreed Friday, ordering Lohan to remain at the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage until Jan 3. Lohan could have been sent back to jail after failing drug tests in violation of her probation on a misdemeanor drunk driving conviction.

The supplemental probation report contains descriptions from a doctor and a chemical dependency counselor that described the progress Lohan was making during counseling sessions and separate rehabilitation stints.

Her stays at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center's neuropsychiatric hospital and the Betty Ford clinic followed her release from jail in July for a probation violation on a misdemeanor drunk driving conviction.

After failing a drug test in September, which led Fox to jail her before she was freed on appeal, chemical dependency counselor Gary Richman said Lohan "finally began to talk about feeling powerless and about being an addict," according to the report

Still, Richman said he thought Lohan needed ongoing treatment and said the actress "has a lot of growing up to do," the report states.

"She must make several changes in her life in order to succeed, especially coming from a family of dysfunction," Richman noted.

Psychotherapist Lee Sadja of UCLA was even more blunt. Calling Lohan "a wonderful young woman," Sadja, who treated Lohan at UCLA and on an outpatient basis, told probation officials the actress "needs to continue to work on her issues in order to save her life."

-- Andrew Blankstein

Photo: Lindsay Lohan arrives at court Friday.

Credit: Chris Pizzello / Associated Press

 

Comments

[regina]

Would she consider incarceration secondary to a felony DUI or -gasp- death injurious to her career? This statement summarizes her mindset - maybe she'll see life from a different perspective after 3 months in Betty Ford. At least I hope so.

[commonman13]

I guess the judge is getting prepared to finance a movie by casting her to make a ton of money. I cna see 'Robrt Downey Jr' and 'Britney Spears' written all over this because this is how southern california/hollywood works. The whole system is a theater and a movie set. Everybody is an actor. There will be some movie starring Lindsy as the main role and it will be blockbuster for lack of good taste among american audience. Lindsy will be appearing on all netowrks/talkshows/blah blah..promoting her. The whole country will be behind her and marvelling about her achievements.

[you]

I think it's the other way around.If you keep doing drugs,you die.Who loses

[jsa26]

It's good to see she's treated just like every other person with 2 felony DUI's who broke probation multiple times.

[al]

Maybe losing her career or being out of money will make her decide to get sober. Addiction is a trecherous disease and they one who can help Lindsey is Lindsey.

[Al LeFeusch]

This is so unbelievably stupid and exactly why the war on drugs is a miserable failure. Why should anyone but Lindsay Lohan care about what drugs Lindsay Lohan puts in her body?

Amazing to believe that a single tax-dollar has been spent on this non-issue.

[Fred Stanley]

What career?? She is a total loser!!

[Bob booy]

Financial hardship?! Ha! And who really cares if poor Lindsay can't afford her drugs and booze. She doesn't bother buying underwear so that will save her a few bucks.

What this girl needs is an extended stay in jail or a serious overdose to bring some common sense and god forbid end these idiotic Lohan stories.

[James Jackson]

The psychotherapists' claws are digging deep into Lindsay's pocketbook. This whole charade is not about drugs but about victimizing Lindsay by the professional know-it-alls who profit from the publicity as well as Lindsay's money with their quackish therapy. She is an opportunity for them.

Leave the girl alone! The individual must make decisions about seeking therapy, not the psychotherapists and not the courts. She must guide her own behavior without coercion.

Such professionals, by the way, have just as many problems and character flaws and have them just as badly as Lindsay or anyone else.

[jorge]

people like her fund the murders in mexico. cut her money supply.

[marvelous son]

Good point JSA26... i have 2 of those puppies...they would book me and at LEAST 30 month program...I heard they were protesting "IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE TIME...GURL THEN DON'T DO THE CRIME!"

[August]

There's no such thing as "TREATMENT"! I thought that 12-Step Religious AA/NA Cult was FREE....how come they charge you $50,000 a month for 24/7 "HIGHER POWER" witchcraft & sorcery nonsense and when you leave the "TREATMENT" center you head to the nearest bar?

[OtirbKcaJ]

I hope the courts have the guts to stick with probation report. Nah what I thinking, they'll buckle under and allow her to walk. Another story of the rich getting away with MURDER (remember O.J.) Besides, L.L. has it all wrong, it's her behavior that's causing her "C" movie career to flounder. Further proof that she's clueless, taking no responsibility for her "crimes." She would benefit from 180 days in treatment. Actually, as long as she stays in "the biz," she'll always get into trouble, but hey, what do I know, I'm just an LMFT and Licensed Alcohol/Drug Counselor with over 20 yrs. experience working with alcoholics/addicts.

[Thibadeaux]

"Possibly removing herself from her lifestyle and it's [sic] pressures for an extended period of time is exactly what is needed to preserve her health."

[Erwin]

If anyone is damaging her career, it is her.

[CaliPHOBE]

Well, folks, felony manslaughter didn't hurt Teddy Kennedy too badly -- but then Lindsey's brother wasn't POTUS.

If she's worried about her career, have her talk to Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers. He'll straighten her out.

[Melvin Painter]

Where are all the Hollywood liberals, Lindsay needs your help.

[Get Planted]

Rehab is damaging to her career? The alternative is jail time, which I suppose could lead to a lucrative reality show contract.

Why is any of this considered "news?'

[Laura08857]

"Damaging to her career" What career???? This has been a insult to our judicial system. This out of work junkie has been offered more help then most. Why waste the tax payers money just let her run wild. Who cares if she drops dead in a dumpster??

[Recovering Addict]

If she dont want treatment send her to the County Jail and when she gets out she can continue her destructive behavior til she kills herself or someone else, gets arrested again, or finally gets clean. She will have to decide for herself. An addict is ready when they are ready, not when someone else says they are ready. The only difference between the homeless, strung out, tore back addicts (clients) I work with is that she has money. Hopefully soon she will decide on her own to stop using, if not it will be Jails, Institutions, and Death for her. I will keep her and all the other addicts whom still suffer from the disease of addiction/alcoholism in my prayers.

[Alex]

Part of Rehab is about changing your habits and routine. I have a much less expensive alternative. She could go to the dog pound and rescue a dog. She could turn that dog into a service dog (addiction is a disability) and take that dog wherever she goes. Her new routine would require at least an hour walk in the morning and an hour walk in the evening. Over time they would bond, and the dog would recognize when that routine is broken and would look at her in the eyes and she would have to make the choice between her dog or drugs. If she had any humanity in her, she would choose the dog and credit him with saving her life as she did for his.

[OtirbKcaJ]

AUGUST, you need to get your facts straight. A.A. & N.A. are FREE. Pretty obvious you've never attended a mtg. or you'd know that. Also, it's not a religion or cult. I'm sure you have some friends or a friend you go to when you have problems to deal with and aren't sure how to do it. Does that make you a religion or a cult? No, it's one person helping another. It doesn't get any simpler than that. In college you have study groups and advisors, are they a religion or a cult, no. Just people helping you get to your goal, a degree. Those treatment programs that charge $50.000 a month, have $$$$ as their higher power, plain and simple. My advice to you is go to a mtg. and get your information first hand, unless you're afraid on finding out you have a problem. Either way, it would be educational.

[steveg68]

Yeah, and more movies like Georgia Rule would be damaging to her career also.

[Ed Campos]

Yeah, then what if she gets released because her "career" is on the line and she gets a hand slap? She gets behind the steering wheel again and kills someone driving around under the influence. Jail is the right place for her!

[Sarita Vernon]

Ask Tod Bridges, Robert Downey, Mel Gibson, Brittany Spears, Money and fame only keeps you far from reality. Fameous people,and the people around them enable the fameous to act out, to be on drugs, and alcohol induced, then cry out about how they abuse it... TOO LATE, Where were we when she was getting drugged an drinking while under age. Someone had to start it for her, she didnt wake up one day with drugs, and decide to do them, someone had to supply them for her and trust, her first buy wasnt on the streets. Who was responsible then. The thing is now, Linsey it is up to you, You have to want to get right, Can you remember how wonderful you life was without drugs, and all this publicity, about your behavior? Want do you want for yourself, To do drugs, and alcohol day in and day out, then give up the lime life and keep your business to yourself. OR Make the decision to get right and Know that you have to want it like your pasion to act and do it. You can, many have. Best of Luck....