In a recent interview with the British magazine, Fabulous, Disney pop princess Demi Lovato revealed the motives behind her drug use, discussing the problem in detail for the first time. Lovato explained that growing up she had no friends in school and bullies told her that she was fat and ugly. She said that she took the taunts to heart and thought she may finally be likeable if she were skinnier, turning to bulimia in order to achieve the body she thought would attract friends. When that didn’t work, Lovato turned to drugs in order to cope with her painful feelings.

Loneliness Was the Driving Force Behind Demi Lovato’s Reliance on Drugs

Lovato was unwilling to go into great detail about her drug use, as she is conscious of the weight her words carry with a very young audience. She admitted that depression and loneliness were at the root of what led her to become an easy target for individuals who gave her drugs in order to take advantage of her fame. Lovato claims that promoters for different clubs and restaurants, pretending to be her friends, would give her drugs and alcohol so she would come back and be seen at their establishments.

These drugs were being thrown at her at a time when she felt friendless and was on tour for her career. She explains that though she was being cheered on by 18,000 fans while on stage, she she would return to a quiet, lonely hotel room. She explained in the interview that she would use the drugs because: “I’d come crashing down and would try to find a way to recreate that feeling, to stay ‘up.’”

Lovato explains that the Hollywood lifestyle for teens and young adults is dangerous because there is both easy access to illicit substances and no one will tell you “no.” This is a hazardous combination, especially for those with a fragile self-image like Lovato had

Lovato Admits to Cutting Herself

Why didn’t Lovato turn to her family? Lovato explained that her parents were divorced and that she did not feel comfortable coming to either of them with her feelings. Unable to find relief, Lovato began cutting her wrists.  She felt that her only option to release the extreme internal discomfort was to hurt herself. This continued until Lovato had a meltdown on a plane and punched one of her backup dancers. It was then that her parents and managers realized that something was desperately wrong and finally stepped in and sent her to rehab. Lovato is now drug and alcohol free and genuinely committed to her own recovery.

If you know a teen who is abusing drugs or alcohol because they are struggling to get a handle on their emotions, there is help available. As Demi Lovato proves, treatment works. Don’t hesitate to get your loved one the help they need today. Call for more information.