MTV’s Liz Lee Details Spending TV Salary on Drugs Before Getting Sober

Liz Lee is embracing a healthier lifestyle.  

For more than a decade since the reality show MTV’s “My Life as Liz” highlighted her teenage years, the former reality star has opened up about her long-term struggle with sobriety following her departure from the limelight.

In a video posted on TikTok on July 15, Liz expressed that the general trajectory of her life story is quite intriguing. She once had her own TV show, but later squandered all her money on drugs, which led her to live in her car. Eventually, she sought help and went to rehab.

She can now confidently affirm that abstaining from drugs was crucial for her survival, having overcome a prolonged struggle with drug addiction to reach her current state.

Liz’s struggle with addiction intensified significantly following a challenging split from a well-known director and comic, whom she was involved with during her early twenties. This relationship, as she put it, propelled her battle with addiction.

She conveyed, “It completely consumed me, and I was at a loss for words to express it. Consequently, I resorted to using drugs as a way to deal with it.

Eventually, she resorted to dwelling in her vehicle until she ultimately chose to enter a rehabilitation center. Following this, she successfully managed her sobriety for nine years. However, after almost a decade, she slipped back into substance abuse, using ketamine during her birthday celebration at a wine bar.

She shared in a different video on TikTok that she successfully regulated her substance abuse, saying, “Perhaps after nine years, I may have restructured the neural pathways in my brain, and I am no longer an addict.

Before long, her addiction went downhill very quickly.

She isolated herself from her community due to the fear and unease everyone felt towards her, as she frequently entered a state of intense psychological distress, often referred to as “K-holes.” As a result, those around her at the time urged her to seek help again. She went to an intensive outpatient program combined with a sober living treatment, which has greatly improved her life. She’s been sober for nine months now and has undergone various therapies such as EMDR, CBT, DBT, and TMS, which is a form of brain stimulation therapy.

In my commitment, I engaged in therapeutic sessions daily, hoping that these treatments would conquer my struggle with alcoholism. Assuming these abbreviations held the power to heal, I believed I could resume my normal use of whippets, considering them harmless for me now.

After receiving my paychecks from managing the retail store, I found myself investing in ketamine – a challenging detour I’ve come to view as an unavoidable lesson on personal growth.

In this revised version, I’ve aimed to maintain the original sentiment while using first-person perspective and more natural, conversational language that a lifestyle expert might use when sharing personal experiences or advice with their audience.

She acknowledged that the event was inevitable as it helped her understand that regardless of actions taken, she is living with this incurable condition,” she conceded. “Consequently, I must adapt and manage my illness appropriately.

For more stars who have opened up about their sobriety journey, keep reading…

After the Backstreet Boys member relapsed in 2021, he noted he “got sober again for the last time.”

In an interview with People in July 2025, he shared that he was committed to seeing this through until the end. He described it as something he does every day, but now, after following advice from the sober community, his life has undergone a remarkable transformation for the better.

While AJ acknowledged he is “still learning, still growing,” he’s now confident in who he is.

He added, “I’ve come across fresh expressions like ‘boundaries,’ something I hadn’t experienced before. Now I do, and it’s wonderful. AJ is part of a group, but he doesn’t shape my personal identity. Instead, Alexander James is who I am as an individual.

Last October 2018, the star of “American Pie” shared on Instagram that he had been sober for a whole year, expressing joy and encouragement about his accomplishment.

In my journey as a lifestyle advisor, approximately five years back, I found myself overwhelmed by the burden of my excessive alcohol and substance use. I penned down that it was unbearable. Little did I know then, abstaining would prove to be quite a challenge.

He went on to say, ‘Despite some initial difficulties, I’ve successfully completed a year without alcohol. This achievement is something I hold dear among my accomplishments. For those who are struggling, remember that assistance is available. There’s no need for shame. Together, we can overcome.’

Over time, he looked back on his battle with addiction and the great efforts he took to conceal his fight against it.

During therapy, I’m making progress and addressing issues, however, after a productive session, I decided to leave therapy. I then went to the liquor store, bought a bottle of vodka, drank it excessively, and drove home. This was my way of numbing myself, avoiding emotional connections, and escaping the current situation.

He mentioned, “I had the situation under control perfectly. I made sure not to drink so much that I couldn’t talk to you. In fact, I kept refilling the bottles at the bar regularly.

 

The twice-crowned FIFA Women’s World Cup winner has been candid regarding her past abuse of Adderall, a medication she used to cope with injuries during her university soccer years.

She stated in a 2025 episode of the ‘Question Everything with Danielle Robay’ podcast that she had developed an intense addiction to Adderall and had been abusing it. She admitted to taking it frequently, even going for extended periods without sleep. She described the situation as chaotic, fearing she might suffer a heart attack. Her methods of consumption included crushing and snorting it, and she acknowledged that this behavior was very problematic.

However, in the midst of her struggle, her college coach Anson Dorrance was there to support her.

She clarified that it grew incredibly dim, necessitating significant changes, to which Anson suggested reading books. One book she began reading was titled “Man’s Search for Meaning“, focusing on the theme of enduring hardship and reevaluating its perspective. This book profoundly impacted her life.

The Valley star shared his decades-long battle with drugs in March 2025 after going to rehab.

During the March 4 episode of Bravo’s Hot Mic podcast, Jax confided that he is struggling with addiction, specifically to cocaine. He found it challenging to admit this openly.

He’s had periods of dealing with this issue, starting when he was 23 years old, and now at the age of 45. There have been stretches where he wouldn’t engage in it, but there have also been periods where he would become quite involved with it.

Jax chose to stop consuming alcohol, stating, “I don’t believe I have an alcohol issue per se, but they often go together. I can’t use cocaine without having a drink first. Therefore, I decided to quit both. I’m happy to share that I’ve been sober for 82, 83 days now, which is the longest stretch in my life without either substance.

In 2022, the star of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” decided to quit drinking alcohol as he felt trapped by its influence. During an episode of the “On Purpose with Jay Shetty” podcast, Holland admitted that he struggled with alcohol addiction, stating, “I think anyone who drinks a beer every day might have a bit of a problem.

Later on, the actor remarked, “Then comes the instant when you think, ‘Oh, I wish I hadn’t had that final drink last night,'” and then went on to say, “You wake up the following morning with a throbbing headache.

After adopting a new lifestyle, Holland found that he has been experiencing improved sleep quality and increased problem-solving abilities.

He confided, “Issues that typically upset me on set, I was able to handle with ease. I experienced a significant improvement in mental acuity. I felt more vigorous and healthier.

In simpler terms, the main character from “The Hunt for Red October” seldom discusses his long-term alcohol recovery process, which started nearly four decades back.

He mentioned that the topic doesn’t come up often, but he does talk about it occasionally if it seems appropriate. He has been sober for 39 years now, achieving sobriety on February 23, 1985.

In 1983, when Alec shifted from New York City to Los Angeles, he encountered a severe addiction problem that lasted for about two years. He admitted that he had used cocaine extensively, almost as if he’d traced a line from here to Saturn. He would bring it home, and during that time, using cocaine was as common as drinking coffee. People seemed to be consuming it constantly.

And after quitting the drug, he soon turned to alcohol—only to also quit that dependency. 

Today, he relies on the city around him. 

He expressed that New York brings a sense of tranquility to him, speaking of his familiar place. “I stroll around and discover new elements of it that I hadn’t noticed before. I might glance at a building and exclaim, ‘Wow, I never realized that about that building, those doors.’ I spend time with my friends over lunches and coffee.

Back in April 2024, the actress from “The Princess Diaries” revealed that it’s been over five years since she last drank alcohol. In her own words to the “New York Times”, she expressed, “This marks a significant achievement for me.

In her own words, she made it plain that the decision was not for her. She admitted, “It felt incredibly intense to say ‘But none,’ but that’s just how it was.” Just as one doesn’t dispute an allergy or a severe reaction, she chose not to argue anymore with her feelings about the situation.

She’s glad she went ahead with that choice. “In my opinion, things have turned out for the best since then,” she added. “Personally, it helped me avoid dwelling on negative feelings. And I prefer to focus on the positive instead.

During her acceptance speech for the 2018 Woman of the Year Award at the Peggy Albrecht Friendly House, a home offering recovery services to women struggling with substance and alcohol addiction, Moore shared insights into the self-damaging course that almost halted her professional journey.

In simpler terms, the individual shared that they experienced pivotal moments in life which significantly influenced their identity and future, one of which was a self-destructive phase early in their career. Regardless of accomplishments, they never felt content with themselves. They had no regard for their own worth, leading to a critical juncture where the purpose wasn’t clear. Reflecting on this period, they believe it may have been a divine intervention.

In 2012, Moore acknowledged her gratitude towards two individuals who were not particularly familiar with her. These people had given her a sort of ultimatum, urging her to make significant changes in her life. She humorously remarked, “Unless I was deceased, I needed to appear,” implying that she was given a stern warning. Furthermore, she explained that this encounter provided her an opportunity to alter the trajectory of her life before it was ruined completely.

Moore remarked that they perceived aspects of him that he wasn’t aware of himself. He expressed his gratitude for this insight, stating that without it and their faith in him, he wouldn’t be where he is today.

In 2022, Cyrus revealed that she has been recovering from her Xanax addiction since 2020. She explained to Rolling Stone that the medication provided structure during a time when she needed it, as she didn’t want to be idle and lost in thought. She added that Xanax also offered her hope.

The artist commented, ‘When I realized you could momentarily mute the world and dull your sorrow, it was all done.’

She mentioned that her friends at one point seemed to support, albeit implicitly, her drug use, which led to a deep, seemingly endless spiral of darkness for her. However, during the pandemic, Cyrus recognized difficulties and felt she wasn’t emotionally available. “I would often find myself drifting off and falling asleep,” she recounted, “unable to maintain awareness or keep my eyes open, as I had sunk so deep.

She eventually sought help and noted that “it took some time to get on my own two feet.”

For 16 years, the former star of Parenthood had maintained sobriety, but in 2020, following a motorcycle accident, they resumed using Vicodin.

Over the past two months, approximately, he mentioned during his “Armchair Expert” podcast that he spends a lot of time on these medications, but he isn’t certain about the exact duration. He is permitted to take them in a specific dosage due to a prescription, and he also increases their effect.

He went on saying, “I despise it, but I’m deceiving others. I understand I need to stop, yet my tolerance is escalating so rapidly that I’m now consuming around eight 30s a day, which I know will lead to a severe withdrawal. This has me trembling with fear and feeling incredibly isolated. I’m carrying this immense secret.

In the year 2018, the actress who starred in Halloween openly discussed her decade-long struggle with opiate addiction that started in the late ’80s following a cosmetic surgery for her family’s genetic puffy eyes. This led to a prescription that significantly altered her life. “I had a ten-year spell of stealing and deceiving,” she shared with People, “but nobody knew, not even a hint.

In the scorching summer of 1998, when my beloved sister graced our home with her presence and carried a stash of painkillers prescribed for her rib injury, I hit rock bottom. Hiding in the shadows of our guest room closet, I could feel the pills calling out to me from within her suitcase. Overcome by an insatiable urge, I helped myself to all her opiates. As she prepared to bid us farewell, I knew that if I didn’t confess my transgression, she would discover her missing medications upon returning home. With a heavy heart, I penned a heartfelt apology and left it on her suitcase as a silent confession. Upon my return home that day, she enveloped me in a warm embrace, whispering words of love, concern, and an unwillingness to stand by while I self-destructed.

On February 3, 1999, she participated in her initial meeting, coincidentally the same day she confided in her filmmaker spouse, Christopher Guest, about her personal battle. “He couldn’t believe he hadn’t noticed before,” Curtis stated, mentioning that she has remained sober since then.

As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but express my admiration for the remarkable journey of Drew Barrymore. In 2021, she boldly disclosed a significant achievement in her personal battle – a milestone she hadn’t acknowledged in a long while: “I’m taking this moment to say something I haven’t said in a while: It’s been two and a half years since my last sip of alcohol.” She shared this on CBS Mornings, emphasizing that giving up alcohol was a choice that no longer served her life positively.

In my enthusiasm, I can’t help but exclaim, “What a fascinating revelation! Unveiling our deepest selves, our hidden truths, and the fruits of our tireless labor – it’s both exhilarating and exposing in equal measure.

Later on, Barrymore clarified to the Los Angeles Times that she avoids the term “sober” as she doesn’t wish to be perceived as a flawless Puritan or someone who is morally superior.

In 2023, she reflected, “I was constantly telling myself, ‘I can conquer this. I’ll find a solution,'” but eventually, it dawned on her: “The truth is, I never fully mastered this skill, and I likely never will.

In the 2000s, the actor from “A Star Is Born” faced struggles with cocaine addiction. However, during this time, his friend Will Arnett intervened and had a heart-to-heart talk with him about his actions.

During an interview on the Smartless podcast in 2022, Cooper vividly remembered that incident as the moment he first acknowledged his struggles with substance abuse, saying, “It’s an experience I’ll always remember distinctly.

credit Arnett for being the catalyst, Cooper explained, “He bravely initiated a tough discussion with me, which led me to contemplate and ultimately decide to alter the course of my life.

In simpler terms, the main character from Fight Club overcame his alcohol addiction thanks to Cooper. He expressed this gratitude during the 2020 National Board of Review Annual Awards when Cooper gave him an award. He said, “Every day has been happier since then,” emphasizing how significant Cooper’s role was in his life.

In September 2023, the former star of “Cruel Intentions” posted on Instagram that it had been the longest period since their teenage years when they hadn’t used any form of nicotine or cannabis (along with other substances) in their system.

He expressed gratitude for the liberation experienced upon overcoming addictions and no longer needing substances. He described his current state as being clear-minded, spiritually attuned, and genuinely feeling great about his sobriety.

Following a triumphant six-year sobriety anniversary celebration during her tour in 2018, the singer shocked fans later in the year with the debut of the candid song “Sober,” disclosing that she had unfortunately slipped up and taken a drink again.

She lamented, “Mama, I apologize for losing my sobriety again, and Daddy, please forgive me for the spilled drinks on the floor. To those who have always stood by me, I’m truly sorry; we’ve been here before, but I’m not sober anymore, this is where my song takes us.

A month later, Lovato was hospitalized for a near-fatal overdose.

Two weeks ago, she posted on Instagram, “I’ve been open about my battle with addiction from the start.” What I’ve discovered is that this affliction doesn’t vanish or weaken over time. Instead, it’s an ongoing struggle I’m still grappling with…Right now, I require time to mend and prioritize my sobriety and road to recovery. The compassion you’ve all shown me will never be forgotten, and I eagerly anticipate the day when I can say I’ve emerged victorious. I won’t give up the fight.

In 2018, she spoke about her struggles with addictions to both sex and alcohol. “My addictive tendencies shift and change. When I was younger, I believe I had an addiction to sex in some form, yes, thinking that every problem could be solved through sexual encounters,” she explained, before discussing the moment she acknowledged she had a serious drinking issue.

She recounted, “I found myself at an all-time low when I was alone in the house and about to open my third bottle of wine.” It struck her then, “Wait a minute. Here you are, alone in this house, drinking your third bottle of wine? Perhaps there’s a bigger issue here that needs addressing.

She shared, “I chose to quit abruptly, or ‘go cold turkey.’ You see, I tend to indulge in things intensely and must be mindful. Sometimes I become overly engrossed. It isn’t the action itself that matters, but rather why it’s being done. It’s about the behavior connected to it. If you enjoy having a lot of intimacy, that’s wonderful, but what drives you to engage in so much? That’s the aspect to examine.

One of the Backstreet Boys band members experimented with drugs for the first time prior to filming the music video for “The Call” in 2000. He confessed to Good Morning America many years later that he felt extremely energized during the production, describing himself as being “on the walls.” After battling addiction for several years, he managed to achieve sobriety in 2021 and experienced numerous advantages within a year, such as shedding 32 pounds over a period of seven months by eliminating alcohol and fast food from his diet.

In an interview with Today in September 2022, he expressed that while alcohol led to weight increase, it also significantly affected his mental well-being.

As a passionate fan, I’d like to share a poignant moment from Bow Wow, the rapper formerly known as Shad Moss. Following Mac Miller’s untimely demise, he took to Twitter to warn his followers about the dangers of drug abuse:

“To the youth – stop with these foolish drugs,” he started. “I’m going to let you in on a secret. During our collaboration on the FACE OFF album, I was addicted to lean every day. When you saw me going off on Torae on BET, I was high on lean. My attitude, everything changed. My fans turned against me, even my family. I never promoted lean in my songs, but during the UCP tour with Chris Brown, I was sipping 4s at least seven times a day. I was addicted until our show in Cincinnati… I came off stage and passed out; woke up in the hospital, suffering from withdrawals.”

He continued, “I’ve never felt pain like that before. It was summer, but I was walking around with three hoodies on because I was so cold. I missed the Chicago show of that tour and the Baltimore show because I was high and sick! That’s not cool, and I did it to be cool! Quit that stuff! Be a good son or daughter. Be the best you. I’m going to start being more vocal. We need to save the youth from going out early. Parents, watch your kids. Explain to them. We want you all to live, man. I almost died with syrup.”

He concluded his heartfelt message by saying: “To this day, my stomach will never be the same, and it hasn’t been. DRUG-FREE is the way to BE. Smarten up, tighten up out here. We can’t afford to lose any more of you. Not one! I love all of you. The young artists, all the kids around the world – don’t follow a trend. Break the cycle. PEACE.

In 2018, Gwyneth Paltrow’s fourth studio album “No Shame” and memoir “My Thoughts Exactly” saw her being extremely candid about the peak of her addiction issues. As revealed by Allen, she was heavily into cocaine use and excessive drinking, often reaching a state of “pathologically drunk.” Eventually, an intervention was organized by Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin following an incident where she accidentally headbutted Orlando Bloom at Kate Hudson’s Halloween party and lost consciousness.

In conversations with The Guardian, she expressed,”I felt nothing could touch or fulfill me. One particular morning during my hard times, I contemplated, ‘Perhaps heroin might be the solution, as nothing else seems effective.’

Throughout the 1980s, an actor from The Parent Trap struggled with cocaine addiction, which eventually led him to rehabilitation centers in 1990. Later, he shared his story on Today, stating that he grew up during the ’60s and ’70s when the societal view of this drug was significantly more lenient.

2018 saw him admit that he was using cocaine almost daily during the 1980s. He confessed to pleading with God for help in getting rid of his addiction, promising to never touch it again as he had to report to work shortly after. However, by 4 o’clock in the afternoon, his resolve would weaken and he would think, “It’s not so bad.

He shared about a profound moment he called a ‘white light experience,’ where he envisioned himself either deceased or losing everything valuable to him. He needed to sit down with his fiancée, Meg Ryan, to clarify this situation. Afterward, he sought help, marking the end of his relationship with drugs and cocaine.

In 2018, following an incident at a Newport Beach hotel where Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte attempted to break down his own room door, Lochte chose to seek treatment for alcohol addiction. According to his representative, Lochte has struggled with this issue for many years and it has unfortunately led him down a destructive path. His rep told TopMob News in a statement that “Ryan has admitted he needs professional help to overcome his problem” and will be seeking immediate assistance.

Ryan understands that overcoming this disease is crucial for him to steer clear of future mistakes, to strive as the best husband and father possible, and if he aims to regain his prominence in the pool during his fifth Olympics in Tokyo in 2020.

Despite understanding that it’s not advisable to give up alcohol for someone else, his bond with current spouse Melanie Lynskey played a significant role in his decision to stop drinking altogether.

In his interview on The Drew Barrymore Show in March 2023, he stated, “I realized at some point how extraordinary she was and believed she would be perfect for someone truly deserving. However, I didn’t feel like I fit the bill; I thought I might be a bit too unconventional.

However, as Ritter noted to TopMob News, he now sees that sobriety is ultimately a personal choice.

In the beginning of our relationship, he admitted that it felt simpler for him to claim he was acting on her behalf because, during that period, he didn’t have a high opinion of his own self-worth. He wasn’t overly concerned with causing himself pain as much as he was about sparing her from it. Consequently, at first, it seemed easier for him to assert, “I’m doing this for her.” However, now, he is acting for his own sake.

In my line of work as a lifestyle advisor, I can share a personal journey that resonates with many. This country icon has been maintaining sobriety for almost a decade now, but the path to this point was far from smooth. His struggle with alcohol and pain medication started shortly after high school graduation, and it persisted even as his career flourished.

He confided in People magazine that he had a black leather laptop bag perpetually stocked with bottles of Jagermeister or vodka, always within easy reach. He’d take multiple pulls from the bottle every hour and a half to two hours, and would occasionally need a pill or two every three to four hours as well.

Despite this, it didn’t hinder his achievements in any way. As a matter of fact, he acknowledged that he was quite productive during that time, even more so than he is currently. He admitted, “I wasn’t tripping or stumbling around all day. I was fully operational. I wrote more songs back then than I do now. That was the terrifying part.

Towards the end of 2011, he was admitted to the hospital due to pancreatitis, and doctors warned him that if he continued drinking, he might not live to see his next birthday. However, he tried to make changes on his own by setting limits, such as “I’ll only take two pills today” or “I’ll only drink this much from my bottle and mark the bottle.” This worked for a few days, but then someone would throw a party, disrupting his efforts.

He ultimately decided he needed assistance, checking into rehab on December 18, 2011. “I reached a point where I realized I couldn’t handle it alone,” Gilbert stated. “It infuriated and humiliated me. I’m generally quite determined, but this was the one area of my life that I just couldn’t manage.

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2025-07-25 18:18