Celebrity - News
HAYDEN PANETTIERE OPENS UP ABOUT A SECRET YEARS-LONG ADDICTION
By KATHRYN COOK
The following story contains discussion of domestic abuse and substance addiction.
Content Warning
Like any Hollywood star, "Nashville's" Hayden Panettiere has gone through ups and downs in her long career, but her personal life has been more volatile. The star went through abusive incidents with ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson, who was eventually charged with assault against Panettiere, and now the actor is opening up about another one of her struggles.
In a July 2022 interview with People, Panettiere spoke about battling addiction to opioids and alcohol whilst also dealing with postpartum depression. "I was on top of the world, and I ruined it," she told the outlet, and also revealed that she began using drugs at a young age, a habit that only worsened when she stepped into the spotlight as a child star.
Luckily, Panettiere got the help she needed by going to trauma therapy and inpatient treatment, and now tries to raise awareness about addiction and mental health issues. "I put a lot of work into myself," she said. "But I don't regret even the ugliest things that have happened to me. I feel incredibly accomplished. And I feel like I have a second chance."