Ryan O’Neal Pleads Guilty To Felony Drug Charges.

Last September Ryan O’Neal was arrested along with his son Redmond O’Neal and hit with felony drug charges.

The elder O’Neal insisted he was innocent from the get go, placing the blame square on the shoulders of his son Redmond. But this past Friday Ryan O’Neal finally admitted the drugs were in fact his.

Ryan O’Neal pleaded guilty to one count felony possession of a controlled substance. A court spokesperson told CelebTV.com that O’Neal, 67, “…needs to commit a minimum of 18 months to a [drug counseling] program…If he completes everything he was ordered to do, the case will be dismissed.”

A progress report hearing for Ryan O’Neal has been set for July 10th.

Attorney Mark Werksman, left, Ryan O’Neal , second left, attorney William, J, Slattery and Redmond O’Neal, right, stand during arraignment on felony drug charges in Malibu, Calif., Friday, Jan 9, 2009. [Source]

You know, I’ve always wondered what a “controlled substance” actually is. So I finally looked it up…..

A controlled substance is generally a drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession, and use are regulated by a government. This may include illegal drugs and prescription medications (designated Controlled Drug in the United Kingdom).

In the United States, the DEA is responsible for suppressing illegal drug use and distribution by enforcing the Controlled Substances Act. Some precursor chemicals used for the production of illegal drugs are also controlled substances in many countries, even though they may lack the pharmacological effects of the drugs themselves. Substances are classified according to schedules and consist primarily of potentially psychoactive substances. The controlled substances do not include many prescription items such as antibiotics.

Some US states have statutes against health care providers self-prescribing and/or administering substances listed in the Controlled Substance Act schedules. This does not forbid licensed providers from self-prescribing medications not on the schedules. [Wikipedia]

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