Perry back to rehab

TV

16:30 15 March 2005

'Friends' star Matthew Perry has been attending a rehab centre for alleged drug addiction.

The handsome actor, who has a long history of substance abuse, was spotted looking dishevelled and unwell at a California hospital asking staff: "Where's the drug addiction department?"

After spending three hours talking to doctors, the 35-year-old star was put on an emergency 48-hour detox programme at the nearby Peninsular Recovery Centre, according to Britain's News Of the World newspaper.

Perry - who shot to fame as Chandler Bing in the sitcom - was seen leaving the clinic from a side door the next day, before having a further appointment with hospital doctors.

The star was again seen leaving the clinic last Monday (07.03.05) before being taken back to hospital and finally home.

Last month, Perry - who once admitted he was taking around 30 pills and drinking up to two pints of vodka a day - was rushed to hospital after suffering a violent seizure brought on by prescription drugs.

The comic actor was at the time taken to Los Angeles' UCLA hospital where medical tests revealed traces of barbiturates - a form of sedative which are usually prescribed as sleeping pills or to calm anxiety - but no traces of recreational drugs.

(c) BANG Media International