Hayden Panettiere struggled for years with an addiction to alcohol and heavy painkillers. The 32-year-old actress, known from the series Heroes in Nashvillesought help for her addictions last year, she told the magazine on Wednesday People.
“It has not been easy and there have been many ups and downs,” Panettiere recalls. “But I’m happy to have overcome the addiction. I feel like I’ve been given a second chance.”
Already in her teens, the actress started drinking and later also using opioids, or morphine-like painkillers. “As I got older, I couldn’t live without drugs and alcohol.”
After the birth of her daughter in 2014, Panettiere developed postpartum depression and her use only increased. For that reason, she decided in 2018 that her daughter had to live with her ex. Later, the actress was hospitalized with jaundice. “Doctors said my liver was going to fail.”
Ultimately, the actress was admitted to rehab for eight months. “I’m so grateful to be a part of this world again. I’ll never take that for granted again.”
–
