Tatum O'Neal not in rehab for cocaine

NEW YORK, March 2 (UPI) -- Tatum O'Neal's publicist said the U.S. actress is not in rehab to deal with a cocaine problem, contrary to a RadarOnline report saying she is.

O'Neal, 48, won an Oscar in 1974 for "Paper Moon." She was a cast member of TV's "Rescue Me" and co-starred with her father, actor Ryan O'Neal, in the reality show "Ryan and Tatum: The O'Neals" last year. She has long battled an addiction to drugs and alcohol, as has her younger half-brother Redmond O'Neal.

Because of her history of substance abuse, the actress is seeking help to manage her pain medication related to her ongoing back problems, The Inquisitr reported.

"Tatum O'Neal has had back issues, had back surgery and went to a place that could supervise her use of prescribed pain killers until the pain had subsided," O'Neal's representative said in a statement issued to The Inquisitr. "She will always seek supervision when taking prescription medication that has addictive potential."

RadarOnline cited an unnamed source as saying O'Neal voluntarily checked into rehab because she suffered a relapse and had been using cocaine.