Redmond O'Neal Arrested Again; Celebrity Relapse All Too Common

COMMENTARY | Redmond O'Neal, the son of Ryan O'Neal and the late Farrah Fawcett, was arrested July 28 for possession of heroin after being pulled over for running a red light, People reports.

O'Neal admitted he was on felony probation after he was stopped by the police for the infraction, and consented to a search of the car, where officers found heroin and marijuana. He was not found to be under the influence, but he was booked and being held without bail until he goes in front of a judge Thursday.

Last summer, O'Neal completed a year-long drug treatment program and released this statement through his lawyer: "My plan is to move forward with my life, clean and sober. I am going to do so privately and with as much quiet dignity as I can."

During his court room graduation from the program, the judge told O'Neal, as well as the other graduates, "This is the fight for the rest of your life."

It is unfortunate that O'Neal was unable to stay sober, but relapse is not uncommon, and can be an even bigger challenge for people who are in the celebrity spotlight. Children who grow up in Hollywood and have access to large amounts of money at an early age without having to work for it find drugs are an easy way to relieve their boredom.

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, 32 percent of men relapse within six months of completion of a rehab program. Although I do not have statistics to base my opinion on, I would think the rate for celebrities is worse than that of an average person.

O'Neal's father Ryan has also been in trouble with the law for drugs and was required to attend a drug diversion program. Our children often follow our lead, hence the saying "do as I say, not as I do".

There are far too many celebrities, as well as average people, who have lost their lives due to drug and/or alcohol addiction. In the United States alone, it is said that there are more than 900,000 people who are addicted to heroin, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

The road of the drug addict offers two options. One path leads to a certain untimely death, and the other road leads to hope for recovery and, although difficult, the light at the end of that road is worth the journey.

I hope O'Neal finds the strength and courage to take the road to recovery, or he may become yet another statistic on the list of drug-related celebrity deaths.