'She needs help': Amanda Bynes uncle speaks out as she 'commits to rehab'

PUBLISHED: 19:56 EST, 17 September 2012 | UPDATED: 03:28 EST, 18 September 2012

The uncle of troubled starlet Amanda Bynes has spoken out about the stricken actress's 'battle with instability.'

His comments come as the 26-year-old actress was photographed smoking what looked to be marijuana from a drug pipe in his car last week and as she faces prison over her multiple driving citations.

'She needs to stop drinking and driving,' her uncle, Ronald Bynes, told website Celebuzz. 'She needs help.'

Help needed: Troubled actress Amanda Bynes's uncle has spoken out and says that his niece 'needs help'; she is seen today in Hollywood

Ronald said: '[Her father] doesn't want to talk about her and often changes the subject.

'The problem is there's no correspondence [between Amanda and her parents]. I don't even think they know what's going on with her.

'They're very upset about her recent problems, but they're in the dark.'

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According to Ronald, the Bynes family wasn’t aware that Amanda may be abusing alcohol, as reported in People magazine in April.

In that report Amanda's father Rick said his daughter 'was not drunk' the night of her DUI arrest and insisted that she 'doesn’t drink.'

'I never knew she drank,' said Ronald, who admitted he hasn’t had much contact with his niece over the years.

'As far as her dad knew, she never drank before. I don’t know if she did it privately,' Ronald revealed

Bynes Police Mug Shot after a traffic accident in Los Angeles.

Arrested: Amanda's mug shot after the August DUI incident

Meanwhile reports have emerged suggesting the former Nickelodeon star has committed to doing a 30-day in-patient program at an undisclosed Southern California center in order to evade jail.

Bynes litany of driving issues culminated over the weekend when her BMW was impounded and she was cited for driving with a suspended license.

In addition to this latest offense, she also has previous DUI and hit-and-run charges.

Last month, the former All That cast member lost her driving privileges on August 25 following a DUI arrest in April and two alleged hit-and-run cases in April and August.

She later denied the allegations.

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She really needs help before she kills herself or someone innocent person...as for the hair, it is horrible...before i read the article i thought it was Lindsay Lohan

- kirsty2012dodgs , Hartlepool, 18/9/2012 22:15

Click to rate Rating 3

I was surprised how many say they do not know of Amanda Bynes. She starred for 4 seasons with Jennie Garth in "What I Like About You" and had two Nickelodeon shows; she was in "Hairspray" and appeared on stage in several plays. She has done Lifetime movies and other TV shows. She began appearing in commercials at the age of seven and has worked pretty steadily ever since. She has won many awards and been in many magazines, including Maxim. She announced she was "retiring" a couple years ago and then backtracked on that, saying she just wanted to take some time off. Sad really...another child actor going off the rails as a young adult.

- Kelly , PA, 18/9/2012 19:53

Click to rate Rating 30

It really bothers me when I see how much preferential treatment these "celebrities" get from law enforcement. Many years ago, when he was 19, my brother was caught driving on a suspended license twice, and he went to jail for a few months. And he was just driving~ NO drugs, NO alcohol! Still, he had to spend six months in jail, missing Thanksgiving and Christmas with the family. Seeing how many of these "celebrities" just get fines, some community service, maybe half a day in jail for THEIR crimes, but everyone else gets the book thrown at them...yeah, that makes my blood boil. (My brother finally cleaned up his act and is now a wonderful husband, a wonderful father who adopted his wife's children and a very hard worker who just got promoted within his company so is now able to work from home. I am VERY proud of him!!)

- k8fearsnoart , Lancaster Pennsylvania USA, 18/9/2012 19:13

Click to rate Rating 36

This is exactly what happened to Britney and Lindsay!!! When is the paparazzi going to stop stalking celebrities?! It makes me sick

- ILoveBritney , London, 18/9/2012 18:48

Click to rate Rating 10

Another tragic tale of an ex-actress who's career ended. Unfortunately these people can never accept that its time for them to go to school, get a trade, and earn a living doing something else. Like the rest of us.

- lola , toronto, 18/9/2012 18:29

Click to rate Rating 10

this story is not true as of right now she is denying problems and denying rehab.

- Kelly , Texas, 18/9/2012 14:59

Click to rate Rating 22

Why 2 articles on this person, when both only add up to one article? Is the DM running out of things to say?

- me..here , Brighton, 18/9/2012 14:54

Click to rate Rating 13

If you cant score a part in any movie, be it grade D, then do the Lohan thing. That oughta earn you a slot in DM, to say the least. And Im ashamed of myself for clicking on this story.

- scha , kl, 18/9/2012 13:57

Click to rate Rating 24

Lindsay Lohan 2.0

- Carolina Girl , Columbia South Carolina USA, 18/9/2012 13:33

Click to rate Rating 47

Wonder did she clean her car since the pictures were in here of it last week.

- Louise , Belfast, United Kingdom, 18/9/2012 12:03

Click to rate Rating 8

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