In an appearance on “Oprah: Where Are They Now?” Mackenzie Phillips revealed she was just 11 years old when she first tried cocaine. She further explained, “I come from a long line of undiagnosed mental illness, rampant addiction, and alcoholism. So, there’s the genetic component. And then there’s the introduction to these types of behaviors at a very young age.” Phillips was a late teenager when she was found in a semi-conscious state on the street and impaired by drugs, according to a 1978 People report. She was arrested for disorderly conduct and placed on six months probation. The actor’s substance use had a major impact on her career, as she was fired twice from “One Day at a Time,” according to Variety.
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In August 2008, Phillips hit another low when she was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine and heroin at LAX, Today reported. A couple of months later, she pleaded guilty to the charge. According to Phillips, the incident marked a turning point for her. At her hearing, she said, “I want to thank the Los Angeles Police Department and the Airport Police for stopping me; they saved my life.” The charge was dropped following her completion of a drug diversion program, USA Today reported in 2010. Her attorney Blair Berk stated, “Mackenzie deserves great credit for seizing the opportunity she was given to get clean and prove she was worthy of the dismissal of her case.”
