Tatum O'Neal said she's happy that she was busted for buying crack. The troubled actress had this message for the New York City police officers who arrested her: "I'm eternally grateful."

O'Neal said her arrest actually saved her from breaking her sobriety. The 44-year-old told the New York Post, "I'm still sober! Just when I was about to change that and wreck my life, the cops came and saved me!"

O'Neal said the reason she turned to the streets to seek drugs was due in part to the passing of her dog Lena three weeks ago. She says Lena's death triggered her spiral downwards. The actress was also reportedly upset about her estrangement from father, Ryan O'Neal.

However, not everyone is buying O'Neal's reasons for ending up in jail. Also a former child star, Danny Bonaducci appeared on the Today Show to talk about O'Neal's recent arrest. "I'm sorry her dog passed away, but I can't imagine that some crack was really the answer to that."

Following her arrest and release from jail, O'Neal attended a 12-step addiction program in Manhattan's Greenwich Village, not far from where she was arrested. On her way to one meeting, she said she regretted the whole incident and said she's committed to treating her addiction problems.

INSIDE EDITION has also learned who led O'Neal by the hand after her release from jail. Boyfriend and architect Ron Castellana, who answered her 3 a.m. phone call from behind bars, came to pick up O'Neal. The actress warmly embraced him before they drove off.