Dr. Drew Pinsky Is 'Very Concerned' About Charlie Sheen's Ex, Brooke Mueller
July 18 2011, Published 10:30 a.m. ET
By Jen Heger - RadarOnline.com Legal Editor
Dr. Drew Pinsky is "very concerned" about Brooke Mueller's plans to go to Mexico for an addiction program that isn't approved in the U.S., he told RadarOnline.com in an exclusive interview.
Mueller has suffered another setback in her ongoing battle with her addiction to drugs, specifically, methamphetamines, and she is going to be taking an extreme measure to attempt to get sober. Mueller plans to go to Mexico and enter a facility that will give her ibogaine, which is supposed to stop the cravings for drugs. Ibogaine isn't legal in the U.S.
"In my experience people, after ibogaine, stop opiates for three to six months and then they begin again," Dr. Pinsky tells RadarOnline.com.
"I have had this experience with dozens of patients, but most disturbingly these patients had persistent mood and personality changes."
Many U.S. medical experts concur about the dangers associated with ibogaine and the hallucinogen is classified as a Controlled Substance in the U.S. Ibogaine is approved in other countries, however, including Mexico, Canada, and elsewhere for the treatment of drug addicts.
Mueller recently finished a 45-day outpatient rehab stint, but relapsed within days.
"Brooke is absolutely desperate. She feels completely powerless to her addiction. Brooke feels that going to get treatment is Mexico is her only option. Brooke wants to be sober, but her addiction just too strong right now," a source close to Charlie Sheen's ex-wife tells RadarOnline.com.
Brooke has been advised that she should seek "a year long intense rehabilitation program," the source tells us. "Clearly the outpatient rehab route isn't working for her. Brooke needs to enroll in a treatment program that she will be required to spend the night, and participate in her treatment plan."
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Mueller has several reasons for not wanting to commit to a year-long program. "Brooke doesn't want to be away from her sons that long, period. Brooke can't bear to be away from (twins) Bob and Max for more than several days."
If she were to agree to a 12-month program, the source says, "Brooke would be allowed to see the boys during that time, of course, but all she hears is the year long commitment, and she freaks out. Brooke is also afraid that if she does go away to rehab, Charlie will stop paying child support to her for the boys. Brooke needs that money, it's her only source of income."