2014: The Year in Celebrity Drug News

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Here it is 2014: The Year in Celebrity Drug News…

#1. Creed’s Scott Stapp Has Public Meltdown, Fueled By Drugs

Last November, the lead singer of Creed, Scott Stapp, posted a rambling Facebook video in which he claimed he was broke and homeless due to an IRS error. Stapp has insisted that he’s sober, but has displayed disturbing behavior as of late: he had placed numerous calls to 9-1-1 rambling about terrorist attacks and left a voicemail to the principal of his son’s school, declaring that the school would soon be the victim of an attack from ISIS. Stapp was placed on an involuntary psych hold in November and has since reportedly lost custody of his children.

Wife Jaclyn declared that Stapp was now abusing amphetamines, crystal meth and steroids. His 16-year-old son, Jagger, posted on Twitter that “my father once again chose drugs over his family. He needs help, but refuses to get it. He’s been on a 9 week binge.”

In an interview with The Fix in December 2013, he said he had been sober for over three years, barring sporadic relapses.

#2. Chris Brown Gets Kicked Out Of Rehab and Sent To Jail

Chris Brown ended up in jail last March after being kicked out of court-ordered rehab. Brown was on probation for assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009 when he violated, being arrested in October 2013 for felony assault after getting into a fight outside of a hotel in Washington, D.C. He was then ordered to rehab.

Brown was kicked out of the facility after he refused to take a drug test and also for leaving the facility without authorization, among other infractions. He was sentenced in May to 131 days behind bars, including time already served, but was released the following month after serving 108 days.

#3. Philip Seymour Hoffman Dies of Drug Overdose

The well-known and highly acclaimed actor and director tragically died in his NYC apartment last February. Hoffman had attended rehab at age 22 after graduating from NYU and remained sober for 23 years. In May 2013, Hoffman completed a 10-day detox after admitting he had been abusing pills for over a year and heroin for about a week.

Mr. Hoffman was found with a syringe still in his arm and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police found nearly 50 envelopes of heroin marked “Ace of Spades,” 20 used syringes in a plastic cup, several bags containing an unknown white powder and various prescription drugs.

#4. Phil Rudd Charged With Drug Possession, Murder Plot

The drummer for the prolific rock band AC/DC was charged last November with possession of methamphetamine and marijuana and his alleged drug use may have led to the far more serious charge of planning a murder plot.

Rudd was arrested in New Zealand for allegedly plotting a double-murder and even hiring a hitman. This led to a police raid of his home, which led to finding the drugs. Rudd faces up to 10 years in jail if convicted for murder conspiracy, but has denied the accusations against him, calling them “ludicrous” and vowed that “I’m going back to work with AC/DC, and I don’t care who likes it and who doesn’t.”

#5. Jackie Chan’s Son Arrested On Drug Charges

Jaycee Chan, 32, was arrested in August after a police raid of his Beijing home, along with Taiwanese actor Kai Ko. Chinese media reported that 100 grams of pot were confiscated from his home, leading to a formal charge of Jaycee using his home as a “shelter” for others to take drugs in. It was also reported that Jackie Chan’s son tested positive for marijuana at the time of his arrest.

The trial is expected to begin next year and he could face three years in prison if convicted on all charges.

#6. Michael Phelps Busted For DUI Again, Enters Rehab

Michael Phelps was busted for drunken driving once again on Sept. 30, ten years after his first DUI. The Olympic gold medalist was pulled over for driving 84 mph in a 40 mph zone and failed a series of roadside sobriety tests. Phelps was Breatholized and blew a .14, nearly double the legal limit.

As a result, Phelps was suspended from competition for six months, in addition to pulling him from the Long Course World Championship Team. Phelps quickly responded, announcing that he would be going to rehab.

“I’m going to take some time away to attend a program that will provide the help I need to better understand myself,” he wrote on Twitter. Swimming is a major part of my life, but right now I need to focus my attention on me as an individual.” He has since completed rehab and is back training for competitions next year.

#7. Peaches Geldof Follows Mom’s Fate, Dies From Drug Overdose

British socialite and TV presenter Peaches Geldof died in April from a heroin overdose. Geldof’s death played out in the same her mother’s did. Paula Yates died at age 41 from a heroin overdose in 2000.

The socialite had struggled with substance abuse throughout her life and had been receiving drug treatment in the two years before she died. Her final interview before her death showed Geldof revealing that she being a mother had been a “healing process” to help her “correct those awful parts of my childhood.”

#8. Justin Bieber Busted For DUI

In Miami last year, the Canadian singer was arrested and charged with drunk-driving, resisting arrest and driving without a valid license after being pulled over in a rented Lamborghini. Bieber was initially pulled over after being caught racing at speeds of 60 mph in a 30 mph zone. After failing a roadside sobriety test, he admitted to consuming alcohol, smoking marijuana and using prescription drugs prior to getting behind the wheel.

In the months following this incident, there have been rumors of him being addicted to marijuana and Sizzurp; however, it seems that Bieber, in an effort to start over, has been seen attending Bible classes, as well as taking up tennis and cycling.

#9. Scott Disick Enters Rehab

The father of Kourtney Kardashian’s children was seen entering rehab this year during an episode Kourtney & Khloe Take the Hamptons, which aired last monthDuring a previous episode from November, Disick was heavily intoxicated, falling over and having difficulty forming sentences. His bodyguard had to physically pick him up and carry him to bed and Disick was still under the influence the next morning. Disick then asks his friend if they can take more sleeping pills together.

Disick entered rehab for five days, admitting that he had been using alcohol to cope with the recent deaths of his parents. He reportedly stopped drinking cold turkey afterwards.

#10. Lil Za Arrested Twice In One Day

The aspiring rapper who used to stay in Justin Bieber’s mansion managed to get arrested twice in one day this January. Lil Za (real name: Zavier Smith) was first arrested for drug possession after police found cocaine during a raid of Bieber’s home in California, which was done in connection with a felony search warrant. Reports later stated that the confiscated drugs were actually Molly and Xanax. Police cleared Bieber of any connection to them. Lil Za was then re-arrested for vandalism charges after reportedly smashing a phone inside his holding cell. His bail was increased from $20,000 to $70,000, but he posted it and was then released.

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