Charle Sheen, ex-wife Brooke Mueller drug test-free

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Brooke Mueller, ex-wife of Charles Sheen, allegedly was seen recently holding what appeared to be a crack pipe. | Nick Ut~AP

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Updated: July 13, 2011 5:04AM

The news that drug testing no longer is required in Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller’s custody agreement has a couple of Mueller’s friends deeply concerned.

Considering that the ex-wife of the former “Two and a Half Men” star frequently has returned to rehab for treatment — and recently was seen holding what appeared to be a pipe for smoking crack cocaine — there appears to be much to worry about.

As TMZ has reported, Mueller continues to have primary custody of the 2-year-old twin boys she had with Sheen, though she left them in the care of her mother when she sought treatment.

“Brooke just shouldn’t be the main person responsible for those kids,” said a woman who has long known the actress, recently seen alongside Paris Hilton in her reality show “The World According to Paris.”

“Even though her mother is very involved with those children, Brooke’s problems with drugs are something that cannot be ignored. . . . Those little boys are so young. Without safeguards in place, I see a lot of problems ahead,” said a second Mueller associate.

MOVING ON: Seems Pete Wentz’s strong bid to win back Ashlee Simpson fell flat because Simpson believes that her ex-husband’s erratic behavior and mood swings will never change. She’s now seriously dating “Boardwalk Empire” actor Vincent Piazza.

Wentz has told pals he’s accepted it all and even has begun casually dating himself.

OPRAH UPDATE: While there is no firm offer to Oprah Winfrey to host the Oscars — and wouldn’t be until an Academy Awards producer signs on later this year — I’m still hearing from key Academy insiders (including two board members) that the talk show queen and OWN network boss is the “dream candidate” for the prestigious gig.

“I think she’d be superb,” said one source who has been involved in the show for years.

BREAK FROM CLASS: As a way to toast Our Town’s hard-working and frequently under-appreciated educators, DreamWorks Pictures hosted a pre-opening screening of “The Help” Tuesday night for Chicago Public School English teachers at the Icon multiplex on Roosevelt Road.

Along with a Southern buffet of fried chicken, collard greens and peach cobbler from Wishbone, the educators also got to meet actresses Emma Stone and Octavia Spencer, plus director Tate Taylor — here promoting their movie based on Kathryn Stockett’s bestselling novel about an unlikely friendship between three women that grew from a secret writing project in Mississippi, set during the 1960s civil rights struggle.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Guests are invited to hear the other president from Hyde Park, Cook County Board Prez Toni Preckwinkle, chat with Sun-Times columnist Laura Washington over a special dinner at Yoshi’s Cafe on North Halsted, beginning at 5:45 p.m. July 26. They’re certain to discuss budget woes, tax hikes and all the other tough issues Preckwinkle has faced during her first eight months in office.

BOOK BEAT: More guest authors have been added to the Chicago Public Library Foundation Carl Sandburg Award dinner Oct. 20, honoring Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert. The latest writers who have been tapped to host tables at the event include President Obama’s political adviser David Axelrod, chef and cookbook author Rick Bayless, rocker Dennis DeYoung, Pulitzer Prize winner Achy Obejas, mystery queen Sara Paretsky, Ebony chair Linda Johnson Rice, NPR’s Peter Sagal, Sun-Times financial columnist and author Terry Savage, photographer Victor Skrebneski and pop culture pro Bill Zehme.

SEEN ON THE SCENE: Sienna Miller — here starring in “Just Like a Woman,” as a Chicago housewife who runs off to Vegas to participate in a belly dancing contest — was spied quietly dining at Di Sotto Enoteca on Chestnut. . . . Actor Jason Patric slipped into Gibsons Rush Street steakery Tuesday night. . . . The Sox’s Paul Konerko was spied at Gemini Bistro. . . . The San Diego Chargers’ Larry English partied at Board Room, Market owner Karl Spektor’s new River North hot spot — as did Dallas Mavericks forward Shawn Marion. . . . Cinema Chicago hosted a special Q&A screening Tuesday with Gilles Paquet-Brenner, director of the upcoming “Sarah’s Key” film, starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Chicago’s own Aidan Quinn. … Yup, that was Carnie Wilson dining with Joey Fatone and a passel of pals at Sunda. . . . Charles Dutton had fans smiling at Hugo’s Frog Bar. . . Tom Irwin was seen dining at John Ward’s Bistronomic the other night.