If Hollywood were a party bus, Tara Reid, Amy Winehouse, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan, and Britney Spears would definitely be on board. Between all of them, they have visited almost every nightclub in Los Angeles, New York, Miami and London, been in almost every rehab facility in California, attended a handful of court hearings and even sat in an occasional jail cell. These young, notorious celebrity bad asses love to party and aren't afraid to do so in the media's hounding eyes.

Actress Tara Reid's social life gave her a reputation as a party girl, and In Touch Weekly voted her "top party animal." It seems every time Tara is in a magazine or on television she has a drink in her hand.

Singer Amy Winehouse has struggled with drug and alcohol abuse, as well as self-destructive behavior since last year. There have been many pictures posted in tabloids of Amy looking wasted, wandering the streets of London, and even snorting cocaine on stage at a concert. British tabloid The Sun posted a video of a woman, allegedly Winehouse, smoking crack cocaine and speaking of having taken ecstasy and valium.

In September 2006, heiress Paris Hilton was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. Her blood alcohol content was 0.08 percent, the level at which it is illegal to drive in California. Paris is pictured partying frequently at various clubs in Los Angeles with a variety of men by her side. And her sex tape with Rick Salomon didn't hurt her party girl reputation.

Reality star Nicole Richie was arrested in Malibu in February 2003 and charged with possession of heroin and driving with a suspended driver's license. Three years later, Nicole was arrested again when she was driving the wrong way on a California freeway. She failed a field sobriety test and was charged with driving under the influence. She admitted to using marijuana and taking vicodin before the incident.

Actress Lindsay Lohan has been photographed partying with Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and many other young Hollywood club kids. According to the Insider Online, when asked if she was a "party girl," Lindsay responded, "People say, 'Oh, she goes out and she parties'. No, we are just going out and having fun." But she seemed to contradict her statement when she was checked into Wonderland Center rehabilitation facility in West Hollywood in January 2007. She issued a statement saying, "I have made a proactive decision to take care of my personal health." She was also seen going to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

But her attempts at rehab didn't seem to help. In May 2007, Lindsay was involved in yet another car crash where police found "additional contraband" in the car, which was tentatively identified as a "usable" amount of cocaine. She was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. Soon after her arrest, she began yet another stint in rehab, this time at Promises Treatment Center in Malibu. Lindsay didn't learn from this incident either. In July 2007, she was pulled over by Santa Monica police after they received a call from her former personal assistant's mother claiming Lindsay was trying to run her off the road. She refused to take a breathalyzer test but failed other field sobriety tests that were given to her. Her blood alcohol content was between 0.12 percent and 0.13 percent, and she had cocaine in her pocket. After Lindsay was booked on felony charges and possession of cocaine, in addition to misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license, she checked into Cirque Lodge Rehabilitation Center in Sundance, Utah, which began her third attempt at rehab.

Pop star Britney Spears has also been in all the tabloids lately and portrayed as someone who has hit rock bottom. In February 2007, Britney checked into an off-shore drug rehabilitation center only to check out less than 24 hours later. The following night she visited a hair salon in Tarzana, Calif., and shaved her own head with electric clippers. A few days later, she admitted herself to another treatment facility in Malibu, leaving briefly, and quickly returning a few days later. Continuing her downward spiral, she was involved in a hit and run accident, she lost custody of her children Sean Preston and Jayden James, and her "comeback' at the MTV Video Music Awards was a flop. Most recently she has been in and out of hospitals purportedly due to mental illness, and a court granted her father James Spears control over all her assets.

Heavy partying seems to come hand in hand with fame, money and power. Those three factors change everything and when in put in the wrong hands with no supervision, can turn dangerous. Being a celebrity does not mean you are above the law, yet many seem to perceive it that way and feel that they can do nothing wrong. Young Hollywood has too much money and power and is forced to make grown-up decisions and choices that they don't always think through first. Many celebs today would rather go out to clubs with their crew than sit in their $1 million mansions watching movies and making popcorn with friends.

On the brighter side, there are other celebs who stay strong and choose not to hang out with people who would have a bad influence on them. There is a good group of girls in Hollywood who manage to keep a good head on their shoulders like Amanda Bynes, Miley Cyrus, Hilary Duff, Raven Symone, Anne Hathaway and Mandy Moore. These girls aren't prominent on the club scene and are still considered good role models to their younger fans. It goes to show that you can be famous, rich and powerful and still maintain a good reputation. Keep up the good work, girls!

Story by Erin Demchak
Starpulse contributing writer