Actress Mischa Barton was hospitalized last week under California code 5150, “involuntary psychiatric hold,” says the New York Post. Friends of the actress said they’d called police because they feared Barton had become suicidal after a three-day drug and alcohol binge. “She is on a downward spiral. She is a mess,” a source told the Post. Barton’s publicist said she has a “medical issue” and called reports of drug abuse “completely preposterous.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Spiralism is the new cult AI users are falling intoUnder the radar Technology is taking a turn
-
Can for-profit geoengineering put a pause on climate change?In the Spotlight Stardust Solutions wants to dim the sun. Scientists are worried.
-
Codeword: November 25, 2025The daily codeword puzzle from The Week
