Tatum O'Neal Sentenced to Drug Program

By Us MagazineJuly 2, 2008, 9:19 am PDT
Story photo: Tatum O'Neal Sentenced to Drug ProgramUs Magazine
Tatum O'Neal pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct on Wednesday after trying to buy crack cocaine last month.

The actress, 44, was ordered to spend two half-day sessions in a drug treatment program and pay a $95 surcharge, the Associated Press reports.

If she meets those conditions when she returns to court September 4, her case will be dismissed.

O'Neal was arrested June 1 for trying to buy the drugs near her NYC apartment.

The former child star (and recovering addict) blamed her close relapse on the death of her 16-year-old Scottish terrier.

"I was going to my psychiatrist," she said. "I was doing everything I could do. I have the disease of alcoholism. It's lifelong. I treat it every day by going to my 12-step program."

The dog's death, she said, "triggered that my mother passed away [from addiction] in '98. My father [actor Ryan O'Neal] and I are estranged."

O'Neal -- who detailed her struggles with addiction in her 2004 memoir, A Paper Life, and completed rehab in 1996 -- thanked police for preventing her from relapsing.

"I'm still sober!" she insisted. "Just when I was about to change that and wreck my life, the cops came and saved me!"

"I'm eternally grateful, as sort of grim as the situation was, that I didn't get to do what my disease was telling me to do," she went on. "I'm still going to get my year on July 10!"



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comments 1-10 of 12  | newest | < newer | older > | oldest
  • webbage
    Tatum: ask Jesus into your heart and ask Him, the only one who can, to help you get past this and move on with your life. keep on keeping on and go with God! blessings!
    report abuseposted September 22, 2008, 3:45 pm PDT
  • alabamasucks
    I am divorcing my husband who is a crack smoking jerk. I mean there is nothing more hurtful to a family than what crack will put them thru. I think that Tatum should really seek all the help she can get. It is a killer for the crackhead and the family. Tatum all crackheads lie all the time about everything. The police did not save you they just made it take a little longer to hit the pipe.
    report abuseposted July 9, 2008, 7:55 am PDT
  • voivoid
    so, she knows shes a alkie(yea) whatta bout that pesky crack problem she got bust on. Ryan, y arent you helping the 1 person who prolonged your career? Oh, hes prolly high too.
    report abuseposted July 8, 2008, 7:26 am PDT
  • Tallman
    unbelieveable! a celebrity crack whore! would would have thought!
    report abuseposted July 5, 2008, 12:04 pm PDT
  • repogeo
    Good luck.God could and would if sought.
    report abuseposted July 4, 2008, 11:33 pm PDT
  • sox fan
    What a double standard, Just because she had a couple of hit movies in the 70's, she still get treated better than the rest of us. Come on!!!! Everyday people get screwed hard then this on lesser charges. Come on get real she a has been, Buttermaker would be ashamed.
    report abuseposted July 4, 2008, 7:23 pm PDT
  • regulator
    God has been waiting for you a long time Tatum. He is the only one that can break the stonghold satan has on your mind. With God all things are possible.
    report abuseposted July 3, 2008, 4:36 am PDT
  • kendra
    savia: i don't know what your race is or what color your face is, don't make this a race issue. tatum is a druggie and got off basically scot free. LEAVE IT AT THAT!!!
    report abuseposted July 2, 2008, 7:01 pm PDT
  • kendra
    2 1/2 day sessions and 95.00. BOY, THAT WILL REALLY SHOW HER WHO'S BOSS. WITH THAT PUNISHMENT, SHE'LL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN. SHE'LL REALLY LEARN HER LESSON NOW!!! THIS IS SUCH A JOKE!!
    report abuseposted July 2, 2008, 6:59 pm PDT
  • MissPriss
    Good luck Tatum.
    report abuseposted July 2, 2008, 12:50 pm PDT
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