Did you know that the first time Demi Lovato used drugs was at the age of 17? Demetria Devonne, who you know by the name Demi Lovato, is an American singer, vocalist, songwriter, and actress who rose to prominence for playing Mitchie Torres in the musical television film Camp Rock, and ever since then, she has never looked back.
Demi has a record number of awards and hits, and when you think of such success, the last thing you want to associate it with is drug abuse. Is your favorite singer that bad of a drug addict, or is it all in the past? Demi Lovato’s overdose story took the internet by storm, so read till the end to find out the answers to all your questions.
Demi Lovato: Dancing With The Devil
Two years ago, Demi Lovato recorded a whole documentary, Dancing With The Devil, consisting of 7 episodes of how the Grammy-nominated singer fell prey to this evil and how she overcame it. In an interview about her documentary, she said that she wants to convey a message through her documentary that the best thing one can do for themselves is to live their truth.
Most of the details of her addiction were kept concealed, but the singer came all open in her documentary. She also sang a song based on her story under the same name, which gained massive popularity again. Let’s have a glimpse of Demi Lovato’s overdose and her overall journey to rehabilitation.
Family History Of Addiction Passed Down
They say a supportive, loving family is the best gift from God. And when the vice versa occurs, it gets hard to deal with. Demi had an alcoholic and addicted father who abused her mother. Unfortunately, Demi got to witness all this in her childhood. In the times when a child, especially a daughter, needs her father the most. She had to distance herself from her father due to very obvious reasons.
This separation made the death of Demi’s father a shock for her, especially when his body went missing for a week and a half. And so, the demise led Demi to a black hole, where she started abusing drugs. Demi also misused Xanax, a drug often used to treat insomnia and anxiety, and is extremely addictive. The first time she used Cocaine, she was only 17 and was also working for the Disney channel. And the combo of Xanax and Cocaine made things even worse.
Demi Lovato’s Overdose And Near-Death Experience
Lovato has had a history of drug abuse, rehabilitation, and relapses that go back to 2010. There was a time in March 2018 when Demi celebrated 6 years of soberness. But just 4 months later, in July 2018, Demi suffered an overdose of heroin and fentanyl. As a result, she made it to the headlines under the tag “Demi Lovato’s overdose.” The overdose was so severe that she had a near-death experience with several strokes followed by a cardiac arrest.
That’s not all; Demi’s drug dealer, who brought her heroin that night, also sexually assaulted her and left her on the scene to die. This event served as an eye-opener for her when she suffered an organ failure, too, along with eyesight issues. Yes, the singer can no longer drive, and even after all these infuriating events, she decided not to lose hope. She was determined not to let her addiction define her, so she proved it.
“One of the hardest things was learning that I was worth recovery.” – Demi Lovato
Coming Back To Life
Recovery is not easy for anyone, and Demi Lovato’s overdose case was no different. When she woke up practically blind in an ICU after her overdose, she was affirmed not to let this happen again and to do better. In a recent interview, the “Really Don’t Care” singer disclosed how she actually cared. Instead of feeling sad about her accident, she continued to ponder on how to fix the mess.
The 31 years old diva’s documentary is not a sugar-coated publicity stunt but rather a very straightforward and disturbing one. Nonetheless, Demi took her time before she came back into the business. As quarantine approached, the “Confident” singer took her time to catch her breath. Chopping off her long hair was the first step, and many more followed.
Lovato has not completely dropped off using substances; she still allows herself weed or alcohol but in moderation. But the main thing here is that she acknowledges that her approach is not practical, and she’s actively working to get rid of it completely.
“Recovery is something that you have to work on every single day, and it’s something that doesn’t get a day off.” – Demi Lovato
Does Lovato Embrace Self-Reflection And Growth?
Lovato started getting help at the age of 18 after she was caught doing drugs and assaulting a fellow dancer on tour. People told her she was bipolar, so Demi not only went into rehab, she also went public to explain her actions. Did Demi care about the public response? No, she didn’t, and she helped dispel the stigma around discussing mental health issues.
She later found that she had ADHD and not bipolar disorder. But, even now, she doesn’t loathe her younger self for being so vocal about her vulnerabilities. She did not consider herself a bad person despite becoming a gossip topic and embraced herself. This is what most of us need to do, too. Let go of the past and forgive ourselves before we embark on our journey to healing while waiting patiently for it to get easier.
Here’s The Catch
Many drug abusers think their life has no turning back now from where they are. They continue to claim their families for destroying their lives, but the truth is that once you’re above 18, you’re no longer a kid. Now, you have to take charge of your life and get over anything that’s harming you and those around you.
Do you see how our Disney star recovered even after so much public pressure? You can do it too! Please don’t wait for an incident like Demi Lovato’s overdose to happen. Start now, Get help, and Do It For Yourself!
