Drugs & Alcohol

A doctor who runs the ER where James Gandolfini was taken before he was pronounced dead says there are no suspicious factors, such as alcohol, but the statement appears premature -- especially with respect to any drugs that might have been in the actor's system.

Professor Claudio Modini, the chief ER doc, says it looks like a heart attack, adding it was "probably a natural cause of death, myocardial infarction."

Gandolfini had acknowledged he had been addicted to cocaine and booze, and substance abuse played a part in his 2002 divorce.

As for the professor's tentative conclusion, it's premature to know if drugs or alcohol were a factor. It's also unclear what -- if any -- toxicology tests will be performed on Gandolfini's body.

As we previously reported, Gandolfini died Wednesday in Italy while on vacation with his son. He had been staying at the Boscolo Hotel Exedra in Rome (pictured below).

Legendary songwriter Diane Warren -- who wrote pretty much every hit song you've ever heard -- tells TMZ, it took her 56 years to reach the highest point of her career ... when Snoop Dogg got her blitzed out of her mind on some serious sticky icky.

Diane -- whose hits include Toni Braxton's "Unbreak My Heart" and Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" -- recently wrote Snoop's new song "The Good Good" ... and when they recorded it at the studio, Diane says they got high as kites together.

The best part of the video is when Diane's friends tell her not to talk about the weed session on camera ... and she blows 'em off saying -- "I don't care, I'm not running for office. I don't give a f**k."

It's pretty hilarious ... Diane's got a great sense of humor ... watch the clip.

Sad news for "Terminator 3" star Nick Stahl -- TMZ has learned, the actor was placed on a 5150 psychiatric hold last night after being taken to an L.A. hospital.

Sources tell us, Stahl -- who has long struggled with drugs, alcohol, and other personal issues -- was transported to the medical facility around 3:30 AM this morning by a friend ... it's unclear why.

Details about circumstances of the psychiatric hold are also unclear.

Carrie Fisher treated the Daytime Emmy Awards like an AA meeting at a comedy club -- cracking drug jokes about Ozzy Osbourne ... and nearly making us forget the slew of blunders and miscues during the show.

We're looking at you George "NCAA" Lucas!

Ozzy Osbourne is officially out of Sharon's dog house ... and has moved back in with his wife ... after convincing Sharon he's been drug and alcohol free for months, TMZ has learned.

It's a big step for the couple, considering they split earlier this year ... when Ozzy fell off the wagon.

Sharon insisted she wouldn't take Ozzy back until he cleaned himself up -- and to prove she meant business, she moved out of the family home and into the Beverly Hills Hotel.

But now, it seems Sharon's convinced Ozzy's winning the war with his demons ... because the two not only walked the red carpet together at the Daytime Emmys on Sunday (and shared a kiss) ... they also went home together after the show.

We're told Sharon is determined to help Ozzy stay off the junk -- she's even hired a "sober team" to monitor the rock star 24/7 and help him steer clear of potential hazards.

Allegedly driving under the influence runs in Bobby Brown's family -- TMZ has learned his older brother Tommy was arrested early this morning for misdemeanor DUI.

Brown was busted just after midnight by Cobb County PD. He was popped for speeding (a misdemeanor) and driving under the influence (also a misdemeanor).

He was booked into Cobb County Adult Detention and is being held on $1,650. Brown is still in custody.

For his part, Bobby has been convicted of DUI three times, most recently back in February.

Ex-UFC champ Ricco Rodriguez has just dodged the strong arm of the law in his drunk driving arrest ... TMZ has learned.

The "Celebrity Rehab" Season 1 alum was arrested in March on suspicion of DUI.

Rico copped a deal, and pled no contest to "wet reckless" -- reckless driving involving alcohol. It's not as serious as DUI, but gets the point across. The DUI charges were dropped.

The former champ won't spend any time in the pokey, but he will be on probation for 3 years. And he was socked with the obligatory $300 fine and a 12-hour alcohol ed program.

Brooke Mueller isn't fit to get her kids back in the foreseeable future ... this according to Children Services, and TMZ has learned a court fight is underway.

Sources close to the situation tell us, Mueller wants her kids back when she leaves rehab -- probably in 60 days. But officials from the L.A. County Dept. of Children and Family Services have had it with Brooke's proclamations that she's cured -- something she's said after each of the nearly 2 dozen times she's relapsed.

Four-year-old twins Bob and Max are currently under the temporary custody of Denise Richards, after a judge ruled she's the one who can best care for the kids.

We're told Children Services has filed legal docs trying to block Brooke's attempt to get her children back when she comes back home. DCFS wants the status quo ... so Brooke can be monitored to determine that she's a fit and sober parent. And we're told DCFS thinks proof of Brooke's sobriety will take a long time.

You'll recall ... just before entering Betty Ford, Brooke was placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold after authorities found she was completely out of it, and apparently on drugs, while her kids were in the home.

Sean Kingston was thiiiiis close to making a TERRIBLE decision last night -- getting behind the wheel of his car after a night of boozing -- but at the last second, he GOT OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT ... thanks to our camera guy.

The 23-year-old rapper was leaving Playhouse nightclub in Hollywood around 2am after a night of partying ... and beelined straight for the driver's seat of his Bentley.

But right before he hit the road, an intoxicated Sean had a moment of clarity ... and JUMPED out of the driver's seat so a sober person could take the wheel. The funny part ... he actually tried to blame TMZ for shaming him into making the right move.

"This is what TMZ wants to catch -- they want to catch a DUI!" Kingston says. "NOT ME!!!"

There seems to be an exodus from Betty Ford ... because TMZ has learned Brooke Mueller has left the rehab facility for greener pastures.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Brooke has entered a rehab facility in Orange County. As for why she left Betty Ford ... we're told Brooke and her people felt Betty Ford was good for "detoxing" ... but she needs a different place to reboot so she can go back home and attempt to lead a clean and sober life.

It's interesting ... Betty Ford has the reputation of being the Rolls-Royce of rehab, but it seems some patients think the facility's value is limited.

We're told Brooke and her people think the O.C. facility will help her assimilate back into society -- something they didn't think Betty Ford could do.

We broke the story ... Lindsay Lohan also left Betty Ford because the judge and prosecutor, along with Lindsay, felt the program had value for 30 days, but not the full 90.

Tan Mom smelled a little too much like the slot machine area in a Laughlin, Nevada casino Thursday ... and her punishment was 30 hours in detox. Let us explain.

T.M. had a layover in Minneapolis and decided to leave the airport's secure area to grab a smoke. To her dismay, TSA wouldn't let her back in, and the mood turned as dark as her. Tan Mom went ballistic.

TSA agents had a sneaking suspicion she was wasted -- because she was totally wasted. They took her to airport police, who then gave Ms. Mom an ultimatum -- either go to jail for public intoxication, or spend 30 hours in a detox facility. Wisely, Tan Mom chose door #2.

She'll be clean as a whistle before she knows it. That's because she's really wasted.

Philip Seymour Hoffman was all smiles at the 2013 Envision Awards in NYC yesterday ... the first major event the actor's attended since leaving detox for narcotic abuse 3 weeks ago.

Hoffman was clutching a bottle as he walked the red carpet ... but fear not, it was just some sparkling water.

We broke the story ... Hoffman entered a detox facility on the East Coast for a 10-day stint back in May ... in an effort to curb a drug problem that was spiraling out of control.

The 45-year-old Oscar winner had struggled with substance abuse in his early 20s -- but kicked the habit for 23 years -- only to fall off the wagon more than a year ago. PSH told TMZ the problems started with pills and escalated to snorting heroin.

Hoffman got treatment to nip the problem in the bud -- and went back to work on a movie a couple of weeks ago.

FYI -- Hoffman attended the event to honor Michael Barker and Tom Bernard, Co-Presidents and Co-Founders of Sony Pictures Classics (pictured above).

Ex-baseball star Dwight 'Doc' Gooden uncorked a verbal beanball at Michael Lohan -- calling him a rehab nightmare, and the root of Lindsay Lohan's problems.

Gooden's not the first to say that ... but he does have firsthand experience with Lindsay's dad -- they did a stint on "Celebrity Rehab" together back in 2011.

Doc, who's as famous for baseball glory as his battles with drug addiction, told Jim Rome ... "He was definitely a head case. I can kinda understand why Lindsay has the problems she has."

Even though Doc says Michael was the most screwed up of his 'Rehab' castmates ... you gotta check out the clip to see which one almost made him quit the show.

2 Chainz posted a damning video of what appears to be the rapper and his crew in the middle of a serious SIZZURP session ... just 1 day before he was arrested for drugs, TMZ has learned.

The video was made specifically for Vine -- a video website that features clips that MUST be 6 seconds or less (it's sorta like Twitter).

In the footage posted by 2 Chainz on June 10, you can clearly see the rapper next to a table filled with what appears to be the ingredients for Sizzurp (cough syrup bottle, sprite and cups).

2 Chainz posted a similar Vine video the day before (June 9) ... but in this clip, you can clearly see 2 Chainz puffing away on what appears to be a fatty joint.

While the videos feature members of 2 Chainz's crew drinking from the double-cups on the table, you never see 2 Chainz taking a sip.

We broke the story ... 2 Chainz was arrested at LAX on June 11 for possession of narcotics after TSA agents claim they discovered Promethazine and pot in his luggage.

2 Chainz is quite the businessman ... 'cause when TMZ shot the rapper leaving an L.A. police station after his LAX drug arrest yesterday, he used the opportunity to promote his upcoming album.

TMZ broke the story ... 2 Chainz was booked on felony narcotics possession when TSA officials found Promethazine in his luggage -- one of the 2 main ingredients in sizzurp. Cops say he also had pot, but less than an ounce.

The rapper seemed pretty positive while leaving the police station -- flashing a peace sign, while sporting a hooded vest.

Lil Wayne's former bandmate says the media got it twisted ... he did NOT say Weezy is or was strung out on drugs and tells TMZ there's nothing but love between them.

Rapper Turk -- who performed with Wayne in the '90s group Hot Boys -- was asked about Wayne's erratic behavior during a podcast interview last week, and said ... "I used to do heroin, cocaine ... So the only thing I can say about that situation is when you’re under the influence ... anything can come out your mouth."

Several websites took the comment as a shot at Lil Wayne -- but Turk wants to make it clear ... "Not one time did I say that Lil Wayne is on drugs. I was talking about myself having a drug problem in the past and what my problem personally was."

Turk says when the story blew up he immediately reached out to tell Weezy his words had been "misconstrued" ... and they squashed the whole mess.

All day my phone ringin bling bling bling ...