Amber Portwood, star of MTV's "Teen Mom," has avoided jail, but will be making another trip to rehab under a plea deal, making her the latest among several young celebrities who have needed help dealing with drug or alcohol abuse.
The young celebrity mom was sentenced to five years in jail for drug possession and violating probation in a Madison County, Ill., courtroom Monday, but under the deal Portwood will avoid serving any jail time so long as she successfully attends and completes a court-ordered rehab program.
Portwood is the latest among a slew of young celebrities that have gone to rehab causing some to question if rehab has become a new trend.
Other young stars such as Demi Lovato, Aaron Carter, former "Baywatch" star Jeremy Jackson, and former Miss United States Teen Kari Ann Peniche have also attended treatment facilities for drug and alcohol abuse.
The highly publicized rehab stays of various famous young celebrities raise the question as to whether the demands of Hollywood are pushing young stars to the brink and leading them into a cycle of drug and alcohol abuse that impairs their ability to live healthy lives. The frequency of drug and alcohol abuse among some of America's most famous young faces also raises questions about whether rehab visits actually help to promote drug and alcohol abuse among young and impressionable audiences.
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It is unclear when Portwood would begin her stay in rehab, as she must first be accepted into the drug rehabilitation program. If deemed suitable to fulfill the requirements of the program at the Madison County drug court, Portwood will be able to stay home with her mother throughout the duration of her treatment, which could last up to three years.
The 21-year-old MTV star has had several previous visits to rehab and told the court on Monday that she had been addicted to pills since the age of 13. "I know it's going to be hard but I have got a lot to loose – I have a daughter," Portwood told the judge at the hearing.
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