The Next Steps for America's Pop Tart
LOS ANGELES, March 21, 2007— -- Britney Spears has been released from the luxurious confines of the Promises treatment center; now her next step is to find a way to cope with life in the real world.
The former pop princess checked into the Malibu, Calif., rehab center last month after increasingly bizarre behavior that culminated in her shaving her head and railing against photographers.
Experts predict Spears will now have a tough road ahead of her. She will need her sober friends to rally around her, which should lessen the chance of a relapse, while her handlers must do their best to ensure that this episode ultimately provides a positive message to her army of young fans.
"A support network of the right people will be vital to Britney," Dr. Edward Dreyfus, a clinical psychiatrist, told ABC News.
And if her hair has grown back, there's a chance Spears could be tearing it out again because of the paparazzi frenzy that awaits her every move.
"Stars are treated like royalty by those who surround them, but often it's people who don't care about the person inside and are just trying to get their 10 or 15 percent," said Dreyfus.
With her release, Spears has been given details on nearby AA-style programs, which she attended while in rehab, and will be encouraged to stay in contact with a counselor at the clinic.
"The chance of relapse varies with each individual, but there's a fairly high risk of it," said Dr. Bruce Spring, an assistant professor in clinical psychiatry at the University of Southern California. "Factors such as personality, life situation and genetics all play their part, but if a patient's friends are addicts, then they're in trouble. Follow-up treatment is extremely important."
Maintaining focus is vital for those fresh out of rehab. Russ McDowell is program director at People in Progress, a clinic in North Hollywood, Calif. Though it is a very different environment from the plush surroundings of Promises, McDowell says that while media attention can exemplify stress, post-treatment recovery is no different for those in the limelight.
