London, Jan 13 (ANI): Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio has revealed that he was left horrified when fellow actors Heath Ledger and River Phoenix died from drug overdose.

Despite growing up in a heroin-riddled neighbourhood, the ‘Titanic’ star has never been tempted to drugs.

Early exposure to substance abuse put him off from experimenting.

“I knew drugs were bad, even as a little kid. Seeing the effects that drugs had on my block, seeing heroin addicts, it made me think twice about ever getting involved in drugs,” the Daily Star quoted him as saying.

“I was so horrified by what I saw drugs do to people that I never wanted anything to do with them,” he added.

Moreover, death of actors Phoenix and Ledger from an accidental overdose left him horrified.

“When I was a young actor, I saw other actors die of drugs. I watched what happened to River Phoenix, who was such an influence on me as a young actor,” he said.

“Now Heath Ledger has died young. It is such a horrifying thought to know that those guys aren’t around any more. Every person has demons. We all have horrible fears and insecurities that we need to overcome,” he added. (ANI)

Washington, Jan 12 (ANI): British comedian Russell Brand has offered his support to the charity that helped him overcome his drug problems.

Brand, a former heroin addict, credits charity Focus 12 for helping to beat his drug issues.

However, the charity faces closure after the British government stopped funding it.

And now Brand has extended his support by joining a campaign to keep the charity open.

“Thankfully, we have two high-level patrons without whom I don’t think we would have survived. Both are still very much a part of the charity and want to help,” Contactmusic quoted Focus 21 boss Chip Somers, as saying. (ANI)

Sydney, Jan 11 (ANI): Pedestrians walking by the Cross City Tunnel in Sydney, Australia, have been warned of the risk of needles being dropped by drug addicts who frequent a suburb directly above.

According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, as a warning to people on foot, syringe signs have been installed along the southbound ramp connecting the tunnel and the Eastern Distributor.

The signs were erected because an area in Darlinghurst directly above the partially-roofed link had become “a hot spot for injecting”, a tunnel spokesman said.

The laneway, between Palmer and Bourke streets, has attracted users since it was created as a result of the tunnel’s construction in 2005.

At night, drug users congregate along the dimly lit path to inject drugs including heroin and ice.

They toss the used syringes over a high chain-link security fence or push them through gaps in the barrier, causing them to fall onto the road directly below, posing a potential threat to tunnel workers, motorists with convertible cars or open sunroofs and drivers who have broken down and left their vehicles.

According to the tunnel spokesman, “To the knowledge of the current management, which has been in place since the change of ownership in September 2007, there has never been an incident of needle-stick injury.”

“Nonetheless, the signage remains in place in the interests of worker safety and in the rare event that a motorist got out of their car and walked around in the ramp area,” he added.

Opposition roads spokesman Andrew Stoner said that the priority should be to close the pathway, which would ensure addicts had no opportunity to dispose of needles in a manner which posed such a danger to tunnel users.

“It shouldn’t be a huge task. It is, however, essential given the real risk of a needle-stick injury, or worse,” he said. (ANI)

Washington, January 10 (ANI): Oscar nominee Ryan O’Neal pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine before a court in Malibu, California, on Friday.

His son Redmond, also an accused in the case, was also present in the court at the time. He, however, had his case continued until February 20.

The court sentenced O’Neal to 18 months in a drug rehabilitation program.

Once he completes the program successfully, the charge will be removed from his criminal record.

The 67-year-old actor has also been directed not to possess any controlled substance or associate with anyone whom he knows to be a drug user, reports Fox News.

O’Neal, who was subdued in court, said only the word “guilty” when asked for his plea.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies arrested him on September 17 at his Malibu home, after they found drugs in his bedroom during a search of the house related to his son’s probation.

Redmond, the son of Ryan and Farrah Fawcett, had been on probation for felony possession of heroin and methamphetamine. (ANI)