Singer suffered a heroin overdose in 2018 and told the story in a documentary and on the album Dancing with the Devil… the Art of Starting Over (2021)
Demi Lovato She was once addicted to crack, methamphetamine and heroin. In 2018, she overdosed on the latter drug and suffered cardiac arrest, as well as three strokes. The singer herself tells this story in the documentary Dancing with the Devilreleased by her in 2021, the year in which she managed to move away from heavier drugs once and for all.
Since then, the American artist has had no problem talking about the most difficult time of her life. At a charity event for Presbyterian Church Youth Mental Health Centerin New Yorkon June 3rd, the artist participated in a chat with the psychiatrist Charlie Shaffera psychiatrist and one of the directors of the place.
At the time, Lovato shared her experience throughout five hospitalizations and how she finally began to recover (via People):
“I’ve been in and out of treatment five times, and for some reason, every time I went back to a treatment center, I felt defeated. I know that firsthand, but I think the glimmer of hope was when I started focusing on the work and getting started, whether that’s work, a program or talking to my treatment team and building relationships there.”
Reflecting on the beginning of the improvement, she highlighted:
“I think the glimmer of hope started to change when I started finding joy and the little things in life. And that was something that was so foreign to me before, because I was so, so used to not seeing hope.”
Five hospitalizations
In her account, Demi Lovato said that her fifth mental health treatment as an inpatient changed her entire perspective. She explained:
“It felt like I had hit rock bottom and I knew what I needed to do, which was to live a life of recovery. It was something I had put off for so long. I also needed the right medication. It helped a lot, not just me, but a lot of people.”
Finally, the artist highlighted that her mental health issues do not define who she is.
“It wasn’t until I first went into treatment that I realized this isn’t who I am. It’s just part of what makes me who I am. My struggles shaped me into the ceramic you see today, but it’s never been my identity since.”
Sequelae of chemical dependency
Demi Lovato is not a teetotaler: she continues to use marijuana and consume alcohol, albeit in moderation. In 2023, during an interview with Andy Cohen on SiriusXM (via NME), the artist spoke about the after-effects she still faces today due to the heroin overdose she suffered in 2018. The singer stated:
“Whenever I look at something — like, I have blind spots in my vision when I look at your face — it’s a constant reminder to stay on the right path, because I never want that to happen again.”
Demi doesn’t seem to regret it, but she almost makes an exception for the event. She said what she would have liked to have heard, and that she could have avoided the experience that left scars.
“I wouldn’t change my path because I don’t regret it… [Mas] The closest thing I have to regret is when I overdosed. I wish someone had told me, first, that I was beautiful — because I didn’t believe that — and, second, that someone had told me that if you just sit with the pain, it will go away.”
Demi Lovato today
After the release of Dancing with the Devil… the Art of Starting Over (2021), Demi Lovato took a turn in her sound towards rock with the album Holy Fvck (2022). In 2023, she released the remix album Revampedwhich brings new versions of old songs with the instrumental weight of the previous album.
Demi also collaborated with slash (Armas e Rosas) on the cover of “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” (of Undisputed Truth and famous for the version of The Temptations), released on the guitarist’s latest solo album, Orgy of the Damned (2024), in return for his participation in Revamped. The singer will also be in the film Towdirected by Stephanie Langwhich should arrive in the second half of this year.
With collaboration from André Luiz Fernandes.
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
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