Nicole Richie Urging Paris Hilton To Enter Rehab Following Cocaine Bust

Paris Hilton’s embarassing Aug. 27 arrest for felony cocaine possession has Las Vegas party promoters — and even Rod Stewart — shaking their heads in horror, but it appears the party girl heiress still has at least one ally left in her corner: former BFF Nicole Richie.

We hear wildchild-turned-celebrity mom Richie has reached out to Hilton in a bid to get the socialite into rehab after she was busted for drugs for the third time this year, tattling tipsters reveal on the pages of the Sept. 13 edition of The National Enquirer.

After all, the former best buddies starred together from 2003 to 2007 on the hit TV reality series The Simple Life.

Once upon a time, Nicole was a repeat rehabber ordered to a 21-day alcohol education course after her 2006 DUI collar. Today, she’s a mother of two, who’s juggling a thriving career as a novelist, actress, and fashion designer. Nicole’s also concerned about Paris, and is waiting in the wings to assist her childhood pal “if she really wants to clean up and get sober,” well-placed insiders say.

Just one little problem: Paris refuses to acknowledge that she’s an addict.

An Enquirer tipster squeals: “Nicole and Paris have certainly had their differences over the years, but they’ve also been close friends. When Paris was busted, Nicole reached out to her and let her know she was there to help her in any way she could…But Nicole can’t do that unless Paris is ready to be helped — and right now, she’s in denial about her problem…Paris thinks her only problem is a legal one — and that it’s going to go away soon thanks to her high-powered Las Vegas attorney David Chesnoff.”

If convicted on the cocaine charge, Hilton faces up to four years in a Nevada prison. She’s due back in court next month.