Substance abuse joke was 'tacky': Eva Mendes

Washington, July 8 : American actress Eva Mendes spoke out against a joke made on the problems of substance abuse, slamming it as 'tacky'.

Mendes, who had quietly admitted herself for treatment at the Cirque Lodge in Utah in January, revealed that she is still "sensitive on the subject" of substance abuse problems.

When a reporter from Interview magazine had joked that Alcoholics Anonymous would have to be changed to Alcoholics Unanimous because of the prevalence of problems in Hollywood, the actress lost her cool and snapped at him.

"I'm not making jokes, because people die from this stuff," USmagazine quoted her as saying in the interview, which hits newsstands next week.

"So, honestly, I think it's a bit tacky that you made a joke. I've got to be honest," she said.

Mendes, 34, had entered treatment for "personal issues," her rep said, amid reports of drug use and body issues.

"There are so many lies out there regarding my recent trip to Cirque Lodge," she stated.

"But I don't care what people think. I just don't care. So I will neither confirm nor deny.

"I'm not a spokesperson for any kind of substance-abuse organization," she adds.

"I'm proud of people who have the determination and the fearlessness to actually go and face their demons and get better.

"This is a life or death situation," she added.

ANI