Lindsay Lohan Un-OFFICIAL Fan Site

I feel your pain, Lindsay. I have been in credit card debt over my eyeballs.
Nope, unlike Dr. Drew Pinskey I am not going to plant drugs in your car to frame you. Dr. Pinsky isn’t breaking the law breaking your Hippocratic oath?

After losing my marriage, business and health I had $88,000 of corporate credit card debt from my business (which seemed like $600,000 at the time.) Here are some tools that will help you and anyone out there get out of credit card debt. These tools worked for me, and millions like me. They can work for you.

1. Don’t Go This Alone
Lindsay, you are not alone. Studies show that currently 58 million Americans are not paying their bills on time. Get caring support as you reinvent your habits. ( No, Dr. Pinsky wouldn’t be on my list either.) Yes, you are going to need to change your habits. It isn’t easy. My prayer for you is that you have someone that sees your great good that goes beyond your current behavior.

2. Use Paper Power
You aren’t going to like this one…but it works.
Simply, switch from plastic to paper money. A study from NYU and the University of Maryland found that when consumers switch from credit cards to cash and they automatically 30 % spend less. These studies show there’s a gut reaction that’s absent when we pay with plastic. That’s the reason you trade your money for poker chips (plastic!) in Las Vegas. Credit cards use this fact to their advantage.

3. Get A Grip
You aren’t going to like this one either.
Make a budget. Put the cash for each budget category into envelopes. Food, gas, entertainment, clothes, shoes etc. I did this. It is very simple and it works. From my own personal experience once you get down to the copper money (they are called pennies in case you forgot) in an envelope you are highly motivated to get out there and make some money. Highly motivated.

4. Pick Up the Phone
Before a large expense, ask for a discount. Sure, you are Lindsay Lohan, but I know that this tip works for the rest of us. One LA consumer got her dentist visit cut for a crown from $850 to $550 by simply calling and explaining her circumstances and asking for a discount for being a long term customer. I’ve heard of lots of people asking for reductions on the rent they pay…and getting it. Give your landlord a call…and let me know.

5. Ask For Help
If you are in over your head in debt you can get help. Credit Counseling will help you with your budget and lower your interest rates. My bet is that Credit Counseling companies are call you right now. Lindsay, listen up…because this is a very hidden fact.

Most consumers aren’t aware that these credit counseling “non-profits” are actually funded by the credit card companies. They are not working for you…they are working for the credit card companies. I used a debt settlement company that cut my credit card debt in half. Having my debt cut in half helped me to avoid bankruptcy and give me the dignity to pay off the debt my start up business had created. Get educated and see what is the best fit for you.I am here to help you. If this worked for me, it can work for you.

Are you struggling under credit card debt? I want to hear your story.

The Today Show “Reinvention Expert” shares her system to get out of debt using her “Turnaround Techniques.” system with other consumers to get out of debt- for good.

You can receive notice of my blogs by checking Become a Fan at the top. Ask Eli a question at [email protected] or go to www.elidavidson.com today.

Eli Davidson is a nationally recognized motivational speaker and executive coach. Her book, Funky to Fabulous: Surefire Success Stories for the Savvy, Sassy and Swamped, (Oak Grove Publishing) has won three national book awards. Eli is a reinvention catalyst, who can transform your professional and personal life from Funky to Fabulous with her 10 trademarked Turnaround Techniques that create rapid and remarkable results. Check out her blog at http://funkytofabulous.blogspot.com/

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Read more: Eli Davidson, Credit Card Debt, Credit Cards, Lindsay Lohan, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Living News

A few weeks ago we learned that Lindsay Lohan was broke and owed $23,000 in rent, and now Radaronline.com reports she is more than half a million dollars in debt.

“Lindsay owes credit cards $600,000,” a source tells Radar. “One card cut her off last week and it’s only a matter of time before all her other credit cards cut her off too.” The source said that if Lindsay cannot make her payments, the credit card company is prepared to sue her.

Over the weekend, Dr. Drew Pinsky wrote in his blog on the Huffington Post that if he were Lindsay’s parent, he would go to any length to get her into treatment, including involving law enforcement. Earlier Dr. Drew said he would frame her by packing her car full of substances, if that’s what it took.

Lindsay responded to Gossip Cop, “He’s a quack and a sell-out… Please tell him to stop!”

She also dismissed Dr. Drew’s concerns about her addiction, saying, “I’m fine.”

“He’s such a loser,” she said. “He’s not a real doctor, he’s a celebrity doctor.”

According to onlookers, Lindsay appeared “wasted” and obviously impaired at Coachella over the weekend.

Read more: Lindsay Lohan Broke, Linday Lohan Dr. Drew, Lindsay Lohan, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Lindsay Lohan Debt, Entertainment News

I have been working in the field of addiction for over twenty years and I continue to be mystified by many of the misconceptions surrounding this most common disorder. Addiction is a deadly disease. It is a brain disease that alters the brain’s fundamental motivational drives such that thoughts, judgment and volition become severely distorted and actually serve the abnormal motivational priority of getting and using more drugs. Untreated severe addiction is more likely to kill a patient suffering with the condition than most cancers. Treated Breast Cancers, Prostate Cancer, most Lymphomas, and the vast majority of skin cancers, have a better prognosis than a treated addict. And yet addiction is the only disease I have to convince a patient that they have and more importantly convince the patient that without treatment his or her life is in danger. Getting families to understand this is often even more difficult. For those of us that are parents, every instinct we have is often precisely anathema to the interventions we should be taking when our children become addicted.

I was at dinner with my own children some months ago and we were discussing addiction and I explained to them that as a result of my experience treating addicts, I wanted them to know that I would go to any lengths to combat this disease should one of them ever fall victim. I reminded them that I spend my days trying to resurrect lives that have been devastated by this disease, devastation that might have been avoided had someone been sufficiently clear to have gone to the mat for this patient when they were younger and earlier in their disease. Family members have to be willing to go to any lengths and unfortunately this often means bringing about circumstances that restrict that individual’s freedom. As the parent of an addict you must be prepared to bring consequences to bear. I am talking about painful interventions that save lives.

I am not naïve about the treatment of addiction and I know well that some times any and all interventions are in vain. There are those professional who would argue that abstinence based interventions are unrealistic for severe addicts and physicians should pursue replacement or so called harm reduction therapies. But when I was asked as a father, if I were in Michael Lohan’s position, what would I do to help my daughter, I am clear that I would go to any lengths to get her to and retain her in treatment. Bringing legal consequences to bear is often the only alternative. It would kill me but I would do it. Perhaps I surrendered my equanimity to a flight of journalistic excess by even suggesting that he plant drugs. But if I was in his position and I knew she was addicted (which I personally do not) and all else had failed, I suspect I would contemplate even this as a last resort.

Let me be clear I am not suggesting this as a routine intervention but we frequently enlist law enforcement when we have exhausted other measures. To those of you who reacted in outrage when I made this suggestion, I will remind you that millions of you watched the first season of Sober House when as difficult as it was for her, the house manager, Jennifer Gimenez, summoned police to contain Steven Adler. We then advocated for long-term treatment as an alternative to imprisonment; an enlightened judge granted this, and today as a result Steven is sober and thriving. Were it not for this intervention, as miserable as it was for Steven, I believe he would have soon succumbed to his addiction.

I have participated in similar interventions many many times and it saves lives. Judges will grant treatment and this can be a very effective means to keep patients engaged in extended care. In my experience the outcomes can be quite good. I do not know Lindsay Lohan but I sincerely wish her the best. She has had excellent treatment in the past at outstanding treatment programs. I hope one day she returns to her recovery as I believe she will one day thrive, provided that this disease does not first bring some horrible consequences down upon her. As a father my heart goes out to Michael Lohan who deeply appreciates the dangers of this condition and (if she is in fact active in her disease) lives every day in the shadow of his daughter’s potential demise.

Read more: Addiction, Lindsay Lohan Drugs, Michael Lohan, Lindsay Lohan, Drug Addiction, Lindsay Lohan Rehab, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Lindsay Lohan Drew Pinsky, Entertainment News

Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and Brian Jones were all members. So was Kurt Cobain; in fact, according to his sister, he spoke about wanting to join the 27 Club and he succeeded. Robert Downey Jr. almost became a member. Amy Winehouse is terrified she will become a member. The price of joining this exclusive club is high but you can’t put it on your Visa or Black Amex; it will cost you your life. The 27 Club (also known as the Forever Club) is reserved for those people (specifically famous rock musicians) who died around the age of 27 often under mysterious circumstances. There have been songs, a movie, books, and websites devoted to it.

Many other musicians have died close to that age; Otis Redding (26), Hank Williams (29), and Jeff Buckley (29). Jeff Buckley was second generation; his father, Tim Buckley, died at 28. And it’s not just musicians; there have been poets (Rupert Brooke), artists (Jean-Michel Basquait), and movie stars (Heath Ledger) who have made it. Why is the mid to late 20s filled with so many land mines and is Lindsay Lohan destined to become the latest casualty?

To understand what happens at age 27 we must first understand 29. That’s the age we experience what’s known in astrology as the Saturn Return. In astrology Saturn is one of those planets that have a terrible reputation and even worse PR. No wonder; it’s connected with reality, responsibility, seriousness, setbacks, caution, and fear. Saturn isn’t bad; no planet is but he’s a no frills kind of guy. Saturn is the “Dr. Phil” of planets; it’s about getting real.

“Don’t be mad at me ’cause you’re pushing thirty and your old tricks no longer work.”

-Amy Winehouse

Saturn takes approximately 29 and a half years to return to where it was at birth. It’s our Saturn birthday or Saturn Return. People talk about the big 30; it’s really the big 29. When Saturn kicks in, we get a wake-up call and like a suspect on CSI or Law & Order we’re ready to confess and cut a deal. The Saturn Return can be compared to going into the army or rehab; our addictions and our freedom are taken away and we’re forced to shape up. It’s a dirty job but someone’s got to do it.

We all have a Saturn Return; millionaire, billionaire, movie star or mogul; no one’s figured out how to have it surgically removed; not even Michael Jackson although he may have tried. If we’re doing it right we sober up, get serious about something and work hard to make it happen. We can’t train forever; sooner or later we have to step up to the starting line and enter the race. Saturn is that starting line.

At her Saturn Return Oprah Winfrey moved to Chicago to host WLS-TV morning talk show AM Chicago. Hillary Rodham married Bill Clinton and joined the Rose Law firm. By the time she was 29 Celine Dion was at the top of her career. She wanted desperately to have a child but couldn’t get pregnant. Then, at her Saturn Return, she made a difficult decision; she put her career on hold in order to start a family. It was in 2002 (when she was 29) that Julie Powell began her Julie/Julia Project; the now famous blog chronicling her year of cooking which led to her book and the movie.

Why are rock stars and celebrities so vulnerable? For most of us our Saturn Return is challenging but empowering; by committing to something and following through we learn discipline, decision making, and how to function in the world. But what if you’ve already achieved massive fame and fortune in your teens or early twenties before you’ve acquired those Saturn skills? What if you have access to endless drugs, sex, and fast cars plus a team of lawyers to bail you out when trouble hits? It takes an exceptional young person with high self esteem, good values, and a strong family not to yield to temptation. Many members of the 27 Club came from broken families with a history of alcohol or drug abuse. Once famous, instead of positive role models, they got handlers and hangers on.

There’s something else; at 27 there’s another cycle called the Lunar Return. Saturn asks us to manifest something concrete in the world. The Moon governs the realm of feelings and instinct. During our Lunar Return we begin to get a sense of what we want to create at our Saturn Return and we need to slow down and listen to those feelings. Of course, if we’re self medicating with drugs and alcohol our intuition will not be reliable. In fact, following our heart could be extremely dangerous. Insecurities, fears, and doubts become exaggerated; so can the need to escape. That combined with the reality of Saturn careening towards us can feel as if someone unleashed the Kraken!

“They tried to make me go to rehab but I said no, no, no.” -Amy Winehouse

Lindsay Lohan may not be a rock star but her early success, broken family, and a tendency to self destruct has created the Perfect Storm for membership in the 27 Club. She doesn’t have to join; in fact, right now is the ideal time for her life together. It will take hard work and tough love, not quick fixes. And she needs to surround herself with survivors not enablers. She would be wise to seek out the people like Robert Downey Jr. and Drew Barrymore who have successfully beaten addiction and created healthy lives and solid careers. You can’t recover in the spotlight; you need privacy, not paparazzi. Go back into rehab, Lindsay. Return again and again if you have to; but keep trying until you get it right. Don’t give up. That effort is what forges the kind of character it takes to build a new life and the discipline to maintain it. America (and the tabloids) loves a great come back story. Give them something positive to write about.

Lindsay Lohan is beautiful and talented and the best is still ahead of her, if she navigates the next few years wisely. The good news is that Saturn always rewards us at the end of its stay. What members of the 27 Club didn’t know and were in too much of a hurry to find out is that The Saturn Return isn’t the end; it’s really the beginning.

Read more: Tim Buckley, Drug Addiction, Lindsay Lohan, Saturn, Jeff Buckly, Brian Jones, Kurt Cobain, Heath Ledger, Otis Redding, Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Robert Downey Jr, Fame, Janis Joplin, Saturn Return, Addiction & Recovery, Health, Hank Williams, Self Help, Celebrity, Living News

Celebrity addiction specialist Drew Pinsky — who goes by Dr. Drew — is taking an online beating for suggesting that the best way to deal with Lindsay Lohan’s drug problem is to “pack her car full with illegal substances” and then call the police.

Dr. Drew’s Facebook page was quickly lit up with criticism following the publication by Radar of his comments. Framing Lohan would itself be a crime and, critics of Dr. Drew are pointing out, would put her at risk of being beaten or shot by the cops.

“If she were my daughter, I would pack her car full with illegal substances, send her on her way, call the police, and make sure she was arrested,” prescribed Dr. Drew. “I would make sure she was not allowed to get out of jail. I would then go to the judge and make sure she was ordered to a minimum of a three year sobriety program.”

Dr. Drew, who hosts a celebrity recovery show and gives professional advice, apparently lives in a world where people found with a “car full with illegal substances” are able to ask the judge to be sent to rehab for three years, instead of prison, and not have their request laughed out of court.

Blogger Scott Morgan at the Drug War Chronicle was among the first to lash out at, arguing that “when you sell Beverly Hills addiction therapy as pop-culture entertainment media, you forget that those same rules don’t apply in Ohio and any parent taking Dr. Drew’s reckless advice is putting their family in the drug war’s deadly crossfire.”

Dr. Drew’s Facebook fans didn’t appreciate the suggestion. A sample of the responses:

Dr. Drew, I’ve had several friends die of addiction. I’ve also watched friends struggle to get treatment and have their efforts thwarted by the criminal justice system. These have been some of the most difficult experiences of my life, and it pains me to hear that someone of your influence would say something so destructive and misguided. I know how ugly addiction is, and that is why your words break my heart. Just because my medical challenges do not involve illegal substances, I go to the doctor when I’m sick. And because some of the medical challenges of my friends do involve illegal substances, they don’t get to go to the doctor – they end up incarcerated. And let me tell you – I’ve seen with my own eyes that PTSD just makes a bad situation worse.

–Katharine Celentano

Dr Drew, you have to do better. Doctors are supposed to do no harm. You should be advocating for drug law reform and harm reduction, not horrific police tactics and coercive treatment.

–Tom Wytiaz

Dr. Drew, you should do a little research about how our criminal justice system treats addicts before you suggest to their families to have them arrested. Only 11% of prisoners with addiction problems get treatment in prison. Besides, prison can be more damaging to a person than an addiction….Prison is not the right solution for addiction.

–Julia Peterson

Did you really endorse planing evidence on drug users to get them arrested? You’re a fucking quack.

–Steven Silverman

Ryan Grim is the author of This Is Your Country On Drugs: The Secret History of Getting High in America

Read more: Lindsay Lohan, Doctor Drew, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Frame, Addiction, Drugs, Celebrity Rehab, Dr. Drew, Sober House, Rehab, Cops, Entertainment News