The cover story on this week’s National Enquirer (which was one my my last purchases before leaving the states for the trashy pleasure of it) claims that Britney collapsed on New Year’s Eve due to a drug overdose, and wasn’t simply tired or drunk as people have speculated. She was actually on Vicodin, cocaine and ecstacy, and smoked pot that night along with consuming a lot of booze, according to The Enquirer.

They also claim that K-Fed has hired a private detective to get more ammunition for the divorce:

Britney Spears’ headline-making collapse was actually a drug overdose fueled by cocaine, Ecstasy, and booze according to family insiders – and now Kevin Federline has hired a private detective to dig up dirt on Britney for their divorce war, say sources.

A world-exclusive Enquirer investigation has uncovered the shocking story behind the pop princess’ New Year’s eve disaster.

“Kevin was so upset about Britney’s collapse, he screamed: ‘I am afraid she’s going to kill herself right in front of my boys,'” revealed a close source.

Horrified by his estranged wife’s behavior, Federline has hired a private investigator – and plans to use his shocking findings as a weapon in their divorce, say insiders…

At dinner, Britney continued to drink – enjoying champagne and cocktails of rum and pineapple juice, according to an eyewitness…

After dinner, back at her hotel suite… Britney allegedly smoked marijuana before going to Pure for the New Year’s Eve party.

“When she got to Pure, she went into the V.I.P. section, and there she snorted cocaine,” charged the close source. “I think Britney likes coke because she feels it helps her stay sober,” the source claims.

Britney was also taking a powerful prescription painkiller – Vicodin, prescribed after her last C-Section some four months ago, according to sources.

As the music pounded and the booze flowed, the mother of two was also given Ecstasy, according to the source.

[From The National Enquirer print edition, January 22, 2007]

Britney was carried out of the club. Her manager famously claimed she was just sleepy while we all speculated it was much more. She then checked herself into an Arizona spa for some detox treatments, but was out and making the scene again within a few days.

The article cites an addiction expert who states the obvious – that a combination of the drugs Britney supposedly took that night has the potential to be lethal.

This sounds to me like one of K-Fed’s buddies called up The Enquirer and made these claims to smear Britney. I’m not saying it’s not true, just that it sounds like something he’d do and the article is worded very favorably toward him. You know he doesn’t care about the kids like this, and realizes they’re in the hands of Britney’s mother and competent nannies.

Pictures from FlynetOnline.