Drugs & Alcohol

The situation with Lamar Odom is forcing people to come to grips with a harsh reality -- addiction is a deadly serious problem that can't be ignored ... so says D.L. Hughley.

The actor/comedian was leaving Barney's in Bev Hills when we asked for his thoughts on the situation -- and he gave us the brutal truth.

"Anybody who's dealt with somebody with addiction knows that generally that's how it ends up ... and it's always sad when it does."

He added, "It's hard for him and his family."

Lamar Odom has not gotten any better, and sources familiar with his treatment say even if he survives he has virtually no chance of ever leading a normal life.

Our sources say doctors continue to put Lamar's chances of survival at 50/50. We're told he showed "absolutely no improvement" Thursday from the condition he was in when he was admitted to the hospital Tuesday. As one person put it, "He's in dire straits."

One of the big issues is Lamar's apparent consumption of cocaine and an herbal substitute for Viagra, which is a potentially deadly combination.

We're told he was "entirely unresponsive" all day Thursday and 4 vital organs are still failing, with no signs of improvement. Lamar is not breathing on his own and his doctors believe his brain function is significantly reduced.

We're told the Kardashian family has flown in several specialists from L.A. to consult with Vegas doctors.

One source said there are comparisons to the plight of Bobbi Kristina, with one big difference. We're told Lamar did not lose oxygen to the brain for nearly as long as Bobbi Kristina, which offers some sliver of hope.

Doctors have told the family for each day that passes without improvement, the prognosis gets bleaker.

You can't turn the Steelers logo into a bunch of marijuana leaves ... or else you'll face the wrath of the NFL ... so says a pot group in Pittsburgh that just got lit up with a nasty legal threat.

The bud beef is all over the logo for the Pittsburgh chapter of NORML -- a massive nonprofit group dedicated to legalizing weed.

They've been using a logo similar to the famous Steelers design for years -- with the asteroids swapped out with red, yellow and blue ganja leaves.

Problem is ... some square at the NFL caught wind of the logo and fired off a cease and desist -- warning the group to 86 the design .. or else! (Guess that paranoia was justified this time).

Turns out ... the people at NORML are more smokers than fighters and told us they're backing down and plan to change the logo ASAP because they don't want a war with the NFL.

Two NORML honchos, Patrick Nightingale and Jason Cole, tell TMZ Sports they're already coming up with a Pittsburgh-themed replacement logo -- "Maybe Andrew Carnegie holding some weed."

Former Playboy Playmates Karissa and Kristina Shannon were rushed to the hospital Monday after a horrific accident where Kristina rolled their SUV ... and then got arrested for DUI.

Sources close to the twins tell us they were on their way to get their nipples pierced (yes, really) when Kristina lost control of their G-Wagon in Beverly Hills. Karissa had to be pulled from the vehicle through the windshield and firefighters cut open the SUV's roof to rescue Kristina.

Law enforcement sources tell us the twins were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Amazingly, they made it out with just scratches and bruises. Kristina was cited for misdemeanor DUI while she was still in her hospital gown.

Sadly, getting wasted in public has kinda become the girls' thing lately.

Lamar Odom took 10 Reload pills over the course of 3 days before he fell into unconsciousness -- according to people at the brothel -- and the FDA says the pills are so dangerous they've advised consumers to throw them away IMMEDIATELY.

The FDA determined Reload contained sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra. The label does not reveal the presence of that ingredient, which is normally restricted to prescriptions monitored by a doctor.

The FDA says sildenafil can "lower blood pressure to dangerous levels."

The FDA sent a warning to consumers in 2013, saying, "Consumers should stop using this product immediately and throw it away."

The brothel sold Reload and Lamar got it when he arrived. The Sheriff seized the remaining inventory of Reload from the display case.

Cops confirm TMZ's story ... that someone from the brothel told the 911 dispatcher Lamar Odom confessed to her he had used cocaine days before he lapsed into unconsciousness, and if cops determine it's cocaine it's "distinctly possible" he'll be prosecuted.

Nye County Sheriff Sharon Wehrly just said her dept. obtained a search warrant and drew blood from Lamar in the hospital Wednesday, and the blood will now be tested for drugs.

As we reported, sources tell us doctors found cocaine in Odom's system.

Scott Disick is back in rehab ... partly in hopes of winning a victory in his child custody battle.

Sources connected to Disick tell us he checked in last weekend to a facility in Malibu, and has not only admitted he has a problem ... but cut ties with some of his usual party pals.

We're told Disick took the leap because of his kids -- he's gunning for unsupervised visits. He's told friends Kourtney Kardashian won't let him have unsupervised visitation until she knows he's clean. Us Weekly first reported Scott's effort to get clean.

Disick made an abbreviated run at rehab earlier this year when he went to a center in Costa Rica that used hallucinogenic plants for treatment. He lasted a week before bailing.

The person who made the Lamar Odom 911 call tells TMZ, he told the dispatcher Lamar confessed to doing coke days before he lapsed into unconsciousness.

Richard Hunter, media director of Love Ranch South, tells TMZ one of the women who found Lamar Tuesday afternoon unconscious in his room came running down the hall, screaming for him. Hunter says when he saw Lamar, he immediately called 911.

The dispatcher asked if Lamar had done drugs or consumed alcohol. Hunter says one of the girls said Lamar had consumed cognac and had taken a "s***load" of an herbal substitute for Viagra. When pressed, she said he took around 10 in the 3 days he was there.

Hunter then said he pressed her to see if Lamar had done any drugs, and the woman said he admitted to having taken "a small amount of cocaine" before he arrived on Saturday. Hunter says he conveyed that information to the dispatcher.

What doesn't make a lot of sense ... why would Lamar confess to doing coke just before arriving but not doing it once he got there?

As we reported, we're told doctors have determined Lamar had coke in his system.

Lamar Odom had cocaine in his system and track marks on one of his arms ... so claim witnesses at the hospital where Lamar lies unconscious.

The witnesses tell TMZ ... doctors have determined the former NBA star had cocaine and opiates in his system -- but it's still unclear if the track marks are fresh or from previous drug use.

We're told doctors have told people close to Lamar the fluid they found in his lungs was the result of crack cocaine use.

We're also told several of Lamar's party friends have come to the hospital to see him but they were turned away.

Sources at the Love Ranch where Lamar was staying have said he was taking an herbal substitute for Viagra but no drugs were found. Dennis Hof who owns the Ranch tells TMZ he can't swear Lamar wasn't doing drugs in his room.

Lamar Odom locked himself away in quiet, relaxing surroundings when he started his weekend getaway at a Nevada brothel.

We got these shots inside the VIP suite at the Love Ranch South outside Pahrump, Nevada ... where, as we reported, LO had been hanging out since Saturday.

Love Ranch owner Dennis Hof refers to the pad as his "house," since he stays there when he's visiting -- but it's usually rented out to VIP clients.

Lamar Odom lost it Sunday ... and the trigger was an episode of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians."

Sources at Dennis Hof's Love Ranch South tell us, Lamar seemed normal during his stay until he got a call from someone about the show. Some of the women who were around Lamar say he became irate, complaining about the way he had just been portrayed on the show.

As for what was on the show ... Khloe got 2 calls from Lamar. When she got off the phone Kim criticized Khloe for being flirty with Lamar. In another clip, Lamar called Khloe to tell her that his good friend Jamie had died. When she got off the phone she worried Lamar might spin out of control. And in another scene Khloe fled a club after she heard Lamar was trying to get in.

We're told Lamar remained upset until he was found unconscious.

Up until getting the call, people at the Ranch say Lamar was "chill." There was no evidence he had been high on drugs or alcohol. We're told when he arrived Saturday, he ordered a single bottle of cognac and when he was found unconscious a third of the bottle was left.

As we reported, people at the Ranch say Lamar had been using an herbal substitute for Viagra. Someone at the Ranch who was around Lamar tells us he was popping 8 to 10 herbal substitutes for Viagra at a time. There are perils to the drug -- it can cause dangerously low blood pressure and it can restrict blood flow to vital organs.

Another source at the ranch says Lamar was taking the actual Viagra drug from a prescription bottle.

David Cassidy is trying to dodge jail time once again -- he entered a not guilty plea in the September hit-and-run crash he allegedly had on a Florida highway.

According to police docs ... Cassidy sideswiped a big rig, and then pulled over, but only to try to hide his license plate, then drove away. He was charged with leaving the scene, and for driving on a suspended license.

Matt Leinart is speaking out on Steve Sarkisian -- his QB coach during his days at USC -- asking people to support his friend because "he needs help."

Leinart went to Twitter and wrote, "Sark is a friend and he needs help. I ask everyone instead of the criticism show your support for him. This is much bigger than football!"

USC football coach Steve Sarkisian was "very emotional" and even crying before he was removed from the USC football facility on Sunday ... multiple sources connected to the incident tell TMZ Sports.

Our sources tell us ... Sark appeared intoxicated at the USC athletic facility on Sunday -- and at one point, he was sobbing in a corner. That's when staffers decided to get USC athletic director Pat Haden involved.

Haden says he spoke with Sarkisian on the phone and determined he was "not healthy" -- and ordered him to take a leave of absence.

Shia LaBeouf was arrested in Austin, Texas Thursday ... and witnesses say the actor was blitzed, out of control and disobeyed police.

Shia was taken to the Travis County Jail and booked for misdemeanor public intoxication.

It happened at around 7:45 PM CT outside a bar on 6th Street. A witness says Shia was either extremely drunk or high on drugs when he ran down the street and jaywalked in front of police. They warned him not to do it but he continued, acting bizarrely.

Cops subdued him and put him in cuffs.

Another witness tells us, before the arrest Shia and a woman tried walking into a bar but they were denied because they were too intoxicated. Shia began swearing up a storm and tried forcing himself into the bar but was blocked. Shia and the woman left and began walking.

Shia, who's been to rehab, has been dogged by substance abuse problems. He had a similar situation in NYC last year, where he was arrested after acting crazy at a Broadway play.

He's in town for the Austin City Limits music festival.

Now that he can't fight for the next 5 years, UFC superstar Nick Diaz decided to spend a weeknight at the Hollywood club scene ... where he told he's happy Cher has his back!

Diaz -- who was hit with a 5 year suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after testing positive for weed -- was leaving 1 OAK nightclub on the Sunset Strip Thursday night with a pretty thick unemployment beard.

So, we had to ask about Cher!

As we previously reported, tons of huge stars have expressed their outrage over Nick's punishment -- including Cher -- who's trying to rally people to force the NSAC to overturn the ban.