Tearful Jackie O reveals past drug addiction
<p>Jackie O Henderson has revealed her private battle with drug addiction that resulted in a stint in rehab. </p>
<p>On her KIIS FM radio show with Kyle Sandilands, Jackie O read an excerpt from her autobiography <em>The Whole Truth</em>, that is set to his shelves on October 29th, detailing her struggles with addiction two years ago.</p>
<p>Henderson said she was “badly addicted” to painkillers, sleeping pills and consuming alcohol for three years, before checking herself in for a month-long stay at the Betty Ford Centre in Palm Springs, California, in November 2022. </p>
<p>The radio host said she was feeling “so nervous” to read out the excerpt, as it was “something I haven’t been very forthcoming about or very truthful about”, recalling how she was feeling “diminished, untethered and alone”.</p>
<p>“By that point, I had no self-esteem, so I was insecure, vulnerable, and heartbroken,” she read.</p>
<p>“It was a recipe for disaster, and I took the coward’s way out to escape those feelings.”</p>
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<p>Jackie admitted that it was only a small circle of friends who knew about her addiction, with Sandilands saying he was oblivious to his co-host's struggles. </p>
<p>“I just didn’t want anyone to know until I had at least gotten a year or more of sobriety under my belt,” Henderson said.</p>
<p>“I can only speak to my experience because my addiction is so different to anyone else’s."</p>
<p>“But people can ask me anything they want, and I’m OK with that. I brought this up, I put it out there myself, so I’m well and truly OK talking about it. I’m excited that I can be more authentic than I’ve ever been.”</p>
<p>She went on to recall how before she flew to America for rehab, she told her audience that she was taking time off for the end of the year. </p>
<p>“But I know I won’t make it that far, I’m hanging on by a thread,” she read from her book.</p>
<p>“There’s only one thing to do today, get on a plane for Los Angeles. My best friend and manager Gemma O’Neill is with me … she tells me I won’t need any fancy dresses where I’m going.”</p>
<p>Henderson recalled grabbing lunch with O’Neill the day of their flight and being “teary”, adding, "Not because I don’t want to go on this journey but because I don’t have the faintest idea what it will be like and that scares me.”</p>
<p>At the Betty Ford Centre, she was enrolled in a 28-day, 12-step program to “treat the substance dependence and drug addiction I’ve been able to keep secret for three long and painful years”.</p>
<p>The 49-year-old said there were “lots of different reasons” for her addiction, but did not go into any on-air.</p>
<p>Henderson said she went back and forth about whether to share her story but decided to make it public, “to use my story to help people”.</p>
<p>She ended the emotional segment by sharing her gratitude that the story had never previously emerged and she was soon to celebrate her two-year sobriety milestone.</p>
<p>“My life has changed for the better and I’m really, really thankful that I did it,” she said.</p>
<p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>
