Celebrity Rehab

Philip Seymour Hoffman was in an Atlanta bar 3 days before he died ... drinking and smoking ... and running in and out of the restroom.

The photo was taken around dinner time at a restaurant next door to the Hyatt in downtown Atlanta on January 30th.

A witness tells us ... Hoffman was with a woman at the bar ... and made "multiple trips" to the bathroom and the witness says it looked "sketchy." The witness says it registered with him at the time ... that the trips to the restroom were curious.

Another witness says Hoffman appeared "drunk."

And, yet another witness saw him at the airport later and he appeared "drunk and disheveled."

Philip Seymour Hoffman's death appears to be heroin-related ... and law enforcement is looking at a deadly strain of the drug as one of the operating theories ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... they do NOT know specifics about the heroin found in the NYC apartment where Seymour died. There were 10 bags found -- 8 of them empty.

Authorities have been tracking a strain of heroin that has killed dozens of people on the East Coast -- just last month. The heroin is laced with fentanyl, an extremely potent drug prescribed for terminal cancer patients. The strain is 100 times more powerful than morphine ... it sometimes shuts down the respiratory system.

The drug -- sometimes called "Theraflu," "Bud Ice" and "24K" -- has been linked to 5 deaths on Long Island, 22 deaths in Pennsylvania and 19 on Rhode Island -- all in January.

Cops do NOT know if this strain caused Hoffman's death, but they tell us "everything's in play" until they get results from toxicology.

Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead Sunday in a New York City apartment of an apparent drug overdose ... TMZ has learned authorities found a needle in his arm.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the actor was found Sunday morning inside a Greenwich apartment ... and they're still on scene investigating.

Our sources say ... Hoffman was found in his bathroom in his boxer shorts, with a needle sticking out of his left arm. We're told police found 10 glassine envelopes -- 2 of the envelopes had heroin ... the others presumably were empty.

One of the envelopes had "Ace of Spades" written on it, and another had an ace of hearts symbol -- such symbols and words are often markers from people who make heroin -- to brand it.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Hoffman was supposed to pick up his kids at 9 AM Sunday but didn't show -- which was unusual for him. A playwright and a friend became concerned, came over and found the actor alone in the apartment.

Details surrounding his death are unclear ... but the actor had struggled with drug problems ... most recently checking himself into a rehab facility for heroin back in May.

TMZ broke the story of Hoffman going to rehab. We were told he did it as a preventative measure because he was getting close to a major relapse. A source involved in Hoffman's treatment now tells TMZ ... the actor said at the time he was on the brink of becoming a heroin IV user and wanted to nip it in the bud before that happened.

As we previously reported ... Hoffman had been clean for 23 years but fell off the wagon in 2012.

It appears Hoffman's last interview was at the Sundance Film Festival with XiXi Yang from PopStopTV for his movie "A Wanted Man."

Hoffman's family released a statement saying, "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Phil and appreciate the outpouring of love and support."

Law enforcement sources tell us his autopsy will take place Monday.

We're told Bieber has just been released by Custom's officials ... after 5-hours of heavy grilling.

Justin Bieber was flagged by U.S. Customs officials when he landed in New Jersey this afternoon because he has 2 pending criminal cases ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

Bieber is still being grilled by Customs people ... after they searched his plane because they allegedly smelled weed. The search turned up nothing.

We're told -- as a result of the Patriot Act -- Customs officials have broad power to flag people coming in from another country when they have an active criminal case or a conviction. Justin currently has an assault case in Canada and a DUI case in Miami Beach.

Sources say Bieber is being "put through the grinder" right now by Customs folks. As one source said, "Once you're flagged it's a grueling process to get in the country."

It's almost certain Justin will eventually be cleared to leave Teterboro Airport because both alleged offenses are minor.

Amanda Bynes' post-rehab future looks very bright ... pink -- the color of choice at her prestigious fashion design school

Amanda -- carrying an oversized bag of school supplies -- appeared in the colorful lobby of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Irvine, CA ... looking like a typical college student.

Bynes -- who lives at home with her parents -- enrolled in design classes as part of her recovery ... after she was released from rehab in December.

Stone Cold Steve Austin just threatened to open a can of WHOOP-ASS all over Justin Bieber ... warning the pop star that if he doesn't straighten up, he's gonna catch a Size 13 in his ass.

The former WWE champ was on "The Arsenio Hall Show" last night when he issued the ultimatum -- shape up ... or else.

Stone Cold says he loves kids ... and just wants to make sure Justin gets on the right path before it's too late -- but he thinks an ass-kickin' is the only thing that'll get through to the Biebs.

Senator Marco Rubio has got big fish to fry ... nonetheless, he's kinda worried about Justin Bieber.

Rubio stopped in the Dirksen Senate Office Bldg in Washington D.C. to chew the fat with us ... and the father of 4 has a clear view that the Biebs is in trouble and needs help.

Trace Adkins beat a hasty retreat from rehab -- just 14 days after he entered the Florida facility for alcoholism ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to Trace tell TMZ ... the country star's father is seriously ill and he felt he needed to be at his bedside ... immediately.

We're told when the illness resolves itself ... Trace will then decide if he goes back to an inpatient program or does outpatient therapy.

As for his immediate sobriety, we're told Trace asked his therapists in Florida to put him in contact with counselors near his dad.

Usher and Scooter Braun had nothing to say as they arrived back on U.S. soil after spending time with Justin Bieber.

Several photogs peppered both -- especially Usher -- with questions about what is loosely being described as an "intervention."

Not a word from either.

Amanda Bynes' road to recovery includes one big cosmetic change ... removing an angelic tattoo from her body.

Amanda's been working out a ton lately -- hitting the gym and doing some power walking -- and she's also slowly erasing a pair of angel wings from her right forearm.

The tattoo -- which was prominent during her blue wig days -- is faded in recent shots of Amanda walking around her parents' neighborhood in Thousand Oaks, CA ... where she's been living since getting out of a rehab facility last month.

Usher helped make Justin Bieber a superstar, but it's gonna be way harder to get his former protege back on the straight and narrow -- since Justin's yet to suffer any consequences for his actions.

Unless, of course ... chilling on a tropical beach with a hot chick is a consequence.

Dean McDermott's been hitting the bottle in rehab ... but this beverage won't derail his treatment because it looks like it's all part of his plan to get healthy.

Dean left his rehab facility over the weekend for an outing -- with other patients -- and carried his own refreshment ... a healthy bottle of Kefir -- a vitamin-rich fermented milk drink.

McDermott checked himself into a treatment program in L.A. last week for "health and personal reasons" ... and apologized for "the pain" he caused his family -- an apparent reference to reports he cheated on Tori Spelling.

Rehabbing country singer Trace Adkins is back under the influence ... of music -- TMZ has learned, he just bought a sweet new guitar in Florida to write music as part of his treatment.

As we reported, Trace fell off the wagon earlier this month on a country music cruise after 12 years of sobriety -- drunkenly confronting a Trace Adkins impersonator ... and quickly got himself into a treatment facility.

Sources tell us, Trace is currently enrolled in a Florida rehab center ... and his therapist encouraged him to keep writing songs in order to stay focused on positive things.

We're told Trace thought it was a great idea ... and on Saturday, he was escorted by rehab employees to a music store in Lake Worth, FL ... to purchase a used Martin guitar for $1,100.

Rehab never sounded so good.

Justin Bieber is suffering from the same delusion that Michael Jackson once embraced -- putting on a false air of confidence when behind the scenes their lives are falling apart.

You'll recall the scene with MJ back in 2004 ... after his arraignment on child molestation charges. Michael famously jumped on his SUV and waived and smiled, trying to convince everyone things were ok.

Justin did the same thing Thursday as he left jail ... after being busted for DUI and resisting arrest.

As much as both of them protested ... Michael and Justin had the same Achilles' heel -- drugs. Michael was hooked on a pharmacy of prescription drugs, and Justin has an enormous problem with sizzurp.

Justin Bieber's people are asking the singer to come back to L.A. so they can sit with him and convince him to go into therapy ... IMMEDIATELY.

Sources connected with Bieber tell us ... they have been trying to get him into rehab for months, but he has scoffed at the idea -- he won't have a conversation about it and insists he doesn't need it.

So we're told his people believe the next best step is psychotherapy ... to deal with both his drug problem and the underlying issues that have caused it. We're told Justin has not rejected the notion of therapy and is willing to have the discussion when he returns to L.A.

Justin's team have played armchair shrink over the last year, and they believe the root problems involve his upbringing as well as the obvious -- being a child star who grew up rich and famous and got a little too used to it.

Dean McDermott now admits he has some big personal problems ... so he's checked himself into rehab.

A remorseful McDermott seems to be addressing reports that he cheated on Tori Spelling, saying, "I am truly sorry for the mistakes I have made and for the pain I've caused my family."

Dean kind of mysteriously adds, he's dealing with "some health and personal issues."