Britney Spears in Strobes Flash

Britney Spears was released from UCLA Hospital after a week of treatment and proceeded to her Coldwater Canyon home where she picked-up the keys to her black Mercedes convertible. As she drove the streets to the Beverly Hills Hotel, every time she stopped in traffic the Paparazzi following her ran up and the strobes blazed, glinting off her over-sized sunglasses.

Britney Spears parents issued this press release: As parents of an adult child in the throes of a mental health crisis, we were extremely disappointed this morning to learn that over the recommendation of her treating psychiatrist, our daughter Britney was released from the hospital that could best care for her and keep her safe.

We are deeply concerned about our daughters safety and vulnerability and believe her life is presently at risk. There are conservatorship orders in place created to protect our daughter that are blatantly disregarded. We ask only that the court's orders be enforced so that a tragedy may be averted.

Britney Spears father and attorney have been granted temporary conservatorship over her and her estate and she was admitted to the UCLA Hospital Psychiatric Unit January 31 under Section 5150 of California's Welfare and Institutions Code- which allows a person to be held for 72 hours for evaluation. Britney Spears hold was extended to two weeks. (Britney Spears transport to the east-side was videotaped by a news chopper and photographed by paparazzi as well.)

Release from the hospital is dependent on the patient not being a danger to herself or others.

Section 5150 restricts the governments ability to hospitalize an individual against their wishes.

This is one reason why Los Angeles is the homeless capital of the United States. The genesis of this once great place to live's condition was in the first term of Ronald Reagan as Governor of California as his advisor's contrived to close all the state's long term Psychiatric Hospitals so as not to have to spend money on them. Much cheaper treatment could be provided at "neighborhood clinics." (The neighborhood clinics were never funded, so the streets and county jails became the places where mentally ill Californians ended up.)

As these events were taking place many new medications were made available to treat mental illness, which was one of the justifications for closing the Psychiatric Hospitals, but they had numerous unpleasant side effects and patients were reluctant to stay on their meds.

Britney Spears has a family that is willing and able to intercede in her medical care, and we are hoping that her condition can be stabilized. As the anniversary of Anna Nicole Smith's death is observed we are hoping that another such occurrence can be avoided. The National Homeless Coalition estimates that there are 102,195 homeless teenagers and young adults in California. (There will be a link to a map at the end of this article to click to find how many are in your state.)