Mischa Barton has opened up about her most recent personal woes, claiming that a spiked drink was responsible for a meltdown last week that landed the former “The O.C.” star in the hospital.
“On the evening of the 25th, I went out with a group of friends to celebrate my birthday,” Barton, who turned 31 on Tuesday, told People in a statement. “While having drinks, I realized that something was not right as my behavior was becoming erratic and continued to intensify over the next several hours.”
Barton continued, “I voluntarily went to get professional help, and I was informed by their staff that I had been given GHB. After an overnight stay, I am home and doing well. I would like to extend a big thanks of gratitude to the professionals at Cedars-Sinai for their great care and professionalism. This is a lesson to all young women out there, be aware of your surroundings.”
GHB, which has been used in medical settings as a general anesthetic and for other uses, has also been used as an intoxicant and is sometimes referred to as a “date-rape drug.”
As reported by TheWrap last week, Barton was voluntarily hospitalized on Thursday. A spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told TheWrap that law enforcement and the fire department responded to a disturbance at a West Hollywood, California, location, to find Barton “being loud” and “making incoherent statements.”
Sources connected to the actress told TMZ that during the incident Barton hung from the backyard fence at her home and rambled about a variety of topics, including her mother — who she claimed was a witch — and David Bowie’s alter-ego Ziggy Stardust.
TMZ reported that Barton, who according to the site was hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation, at one point declared, “Oh my God, it’s over! I feel it, and it’s angry!”
TMZ added that the actress was clad only in a dress shirt and a tie during the incident.
Barton’s previous personal difficulties include a 2007 DUI arrest and a stint at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.