Jordan Ellis
Demi Lovato, the American singer, songwriter, and actress, has been open about her struggles with mental health, addiction, and substance abuse throughout her career. In July 2018, she was hospitalized after a suspected drug overdose at her home in Los Angeles, California. She was found unconscious and treated with naloxone, an opioid overdose medication, before being taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she remained for two weeks. Lovato suffered multiple health complications from the overdose, including three strokes, a heart attack, and brain damage, which caused lasting impacts on her vision and reading abilities. Since her overdose, Lovato has been committed to her recovery and has been sober for several years, leveraging her experience to help others facing similar struggles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of overdose | 24 July 2018 |
| Age at the time of overdose | 25 |
| Location | Demi Lovato's home in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles |
| Substances involved | Opioids, Oxycodone, Fentanyl, Heroin, Cocaine, Marijuana, Adderall |
| Health complications | Multiple strokes, a heart attack, brain damage, vision problems |
| Treatment | Narcan/Naloxone, In-patient rehab |
| Songs referencing the incident | "Sober", "Dancing with the Devil" |
| Documentary referencing the incident | "Dancing with the Devil" |
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What You'll Learn
Demi Lovato's opioid overdose in 2018
On July 24, 2018, Demi Lovato suffered an opioid overdose and was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The singer was found unresponsive by their assistant, Jordan Jackson, at their Los Angeles home. Lovato was treated with Narcan (Naloxone), an emergency medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, and was reported to be stable and recovering later that day.
Lovato's overdose was caused by a lethal mix of opioids, heroin, and fentanyl. Fentanyl, which is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin, is often added to drugs by dealers to give users a more intense high. The singer had relapsed after six years of sobriety, as revealed in their song "Sober," released a month before the overdose.
Lovato experienced multiple health complications following the overdose, including three strokes, a heart attack, and brain damage. The brain damage resulted in lasting vision and hearing problems, causing blind spots in their vision that have made driving and reading difficult. In the years following the overdose, Lovato has been open about their struggles with addiction and has sought help through therapy and rehab. In 2021, they released the single "Dancing with the Devil," which addressed their substance abuse and overdose.
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Brain damage and health complications
Demi Lovato has been open about her struggles with mental health, addiction, and substance abuse throughout her career. In July 2018, the pop singer suffered an opioid overdose at her home in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, and was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She was found unconscious and had to be revived with naloxone, an anti-opioid medication.
Lovato experienced multiple health complications following the overdose, including three strokes, a heart attack, and brain damage. The brain damage resulted in lasting vision problems, with Lovato reporting issues with driving and reading due to blind spots in her vision. In a 2021 documentary, she shared that she still deals with the effects of the brain damage, stating that it serves as a reminder of the consequences of addiction.
Lovato's overdose and subsequent health issues brought attention to the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States. According to health officials, approximately 115 Americans die from opioid overdoses daily, and over 250,000 Americans have succumbed to such overdoses in the past decade.
Lovato's journey with addiction and recovery has been well-documented. She first entered rehab in 2010 but relapsed multiple times, despite periods of sobriety. In her music and public appearances, Lovato has been vocal about her experiences, offering support and inspiration to her fans and others facing similar struggles.
Following the 2018 overdose, Lovato spent time in the hospital and then entered an inpatient rehab facility. She has since expressed gratitude for the support received and a commitment to her ongoing recovery.
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The singer's battles with bipolar disorder, bulimia, and addiction
Demi Lovato, the American singer, songwriter, and actress, has been open about her struggles with bipolar disorder, bulimia, and addiction. In a 2016 interview, the singer shared that living with bipolar disorder is a "work in progress" and that she has the support of her family, friends, and a treatment team. Lovato is also an advocate for raising awareness about mental health and has teamed up with several mental health organizations for an initiative called Be Vocal: Speak Up For Mental Health. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is marked by extreme changes in mood, thought, energy, and behavior, with moods alternating between highs (mania) and lows (depression).
Lovato has also been candid about her struggles with bulimia and body image. In an interview with Ashley Graham, she shared that what she believed to be years of recovery from an eating disorder was "just completely falling into it." Lovato threw herself into working out and trying to conform to societal standards of beauty, which ultimately led to her relapse. She has decided to focus on her health and recovery and has taken a step back from sharing her story publicly.
In addition to her battles with bipolar disorder and bulimia, Lovato has struggled with addiction. In 2018, she suffered an opioid overdose and was hospitalized for two weeks. She recalled that the doctors told her she had five to ten minutes more, and if no one had found her, she wouldn't have survived. Lovato's overdose received widespread media coverage, and she became the most googled person of 2018. She has been open about her journey to recovery and sobriety, speaking out about her struggles with cocaine and crack cocaine addiction. In her documentary series, "Dancing with the Devil," Lovato sheds light on her relapse, overdose, and commitment to recovery, highlighting that addiction is a chronic disease requiring lifelong support.
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Demi Lovato's sobriety and road to recovery
Demi Lovato has been open about their struggles with sobriety and addiction for many years. In 2012, Lovato checked into rehab for depression, self-harm, addiction, and an eating disorder. They remained in rehab for a significant period, and their recovery journey began. Lovato has described their recovery as a battle, requiring ongoing work on their physical and mental health. They have also been vocal about the importance of medication and therapy in their recovery.
In March 2018, Lovato celebrated six years of sobriety, but later that year, they relapsed and overdosed on opioids laced with fentanyl. They were revived with naloxone and rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where they were treated and stabilized. Lovato suffered multiple strokes, a heart attack, and brain damage, resulting in lasting vision and hearing problems.
Lovato has been candid about the challenges they faced during their recovery journey, including the impact of their overdose on their health. They have also spoken about their experience of being assaulted by their dealer, which they only realized a month after the overdose.
Lovato has since continued to work on their recovery and sobriety, celebrating small wins along the way. They have acknowledged that relapse is a part of the recovery process and have sought additional treatment, including entering an inpatient rehab facility and living in a sober living home.
In a 2023 interview, Lovato expressed feeling happier and on a better path, stating that they had no regrets about their journey. They continue to inspire others through their advocacy work and by sharing their experiences with addiction and recovery.
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The singer's close call with death
Demi Lovato, the American singer, songwriter, and actress, has been open about her struggles with mental health and addiction throughout her career. In July 2018, the pop star was hospitalised after a suspected drug overdose at her home in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles. She was found unconscious and had to be revived with Narcan (naloxone), an emergency medication for opioid overdoses.
Lovato recalled, "The doctors told me that I had five to 10 minutes, like, if no one had found me, then I wouldn't be here." Indeed, she was just minutes from death, suffering three strokes, a heart attack, and brain damage following the overdose. The brain damage caused lasting vision problems, and she still deals with the effects today. In her documentary, 'Dancing with the Devil', she reflects on her near-death experience, saying, "I've had a lot of lives, like a cat. I'm on my ninth life."
Lovato has a history of substance abuse, admitting to the use of cocaine, marijuana, and Adderall in the past. She first tried cocaine at the age of 17 and went to rehab for the first time in 2010, where she said she "wasn't ready to get sober." In March 2018, she celebrated six years of sobriety, but just a month later, she relapsed and overdosed.
In her song 'Sober', released shortly before the overdose, Lovato hints at her struggle with recovery, singing, "I'm sorry that I'm here again, I promise I'll get help/It wasn't my intention, I'm sorry to myself." Following the overdose, Lovato entered an inpatient rehab facility and has since been focusing on her sobriety and road to recovery. She has been honest about her experiences, hoping to help others who have faced similar struggles.
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Frequently asked questions
Demi Lovato suffered an apparent overdose and was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles in July 2018.
Lovato was found unconscious and had to be revived with Narcan (naloxone), an anti-overdose medication. She suffered multiple strokes, a heart attack, and brain damage, which caused lasting vision and hearing problems.
Lovato was hospitalized for two weeks and subsequently entered an inpatient rehab facility.
Demi Lovato has been open about her struggles with mental health, addiction, and recovery. In 2023, she said she was on a "much better, happier path." She has also been sober for several years since her overdose.
