Drew Barrymore recalls getting high with mom's friend when she was 10 while discussing substance abuse with Demi Lovato

2023 Time100 Gala - Source: Getty
2023 Time100 Gala - Source: Getty

Demi Lovato and Drew Barrymore recently shared their challenging experiences with childhood fame and substance abuse. In a candid conversation as part of Lovato's documentary Child Star, both former child actors revealed how they were exposed to drugs and alcohol at a young age.

Lovato, who uses she/they pronouns, and Drew Barrymore, who began acting as an infant, discussed their early struggles with addiction, recounting painful memories of being given substances as children.

In Child Star, Lovato asks Drew Barrymore, "How old were you when you were first given something?" Drew Barrymore replied,

"I used to get high with my mom's friend at like 10. And I thought she was so cool, and she would give weed to me and her son." Lovato added, "It's hard to not blame someone else when you're ten years old," emphasizing how early exposure to drugs complicates the issue of accountability.

Drew Barrymore reflects on accountability while child stars share struggles with early substance exposure

Despite her traumatic experiences, Drew Barrymore made it clear that she holds herself accountable for her actions.

Reflecting on her past, she said, "Those were all my actions, those were my reactions. That was my coping mechanism. I’m very accountable, I don't blame other people."

She acknowledged that becoming a mother has drastically changed her perspective on her childhood, stating,

"Having a 10-year-old daughter now, I just, it's unfathomable. But that's just how I grew up."

Lovato also expressed similar feelings saying that it's hard to break the cycle of addiction if the people around you are part of the issue. These comments are a recall of the issues that child actors go through, all alone, without any direction or shield from the elders.

Child Star, co-directed by Lovato and Nicola Marsh, shows the darker side of life when one grows up in Hollywood. Real-life examples are presented in the film, the directors managed to interview such celebrities as Christina Ricci, Kenan Thompson, JoJo Siwa, Alyson Stoner, and Raven-Symoné.

The young actors that were interviewed shared how they were taken by other celebrities and producers at a tender age in a wrong way with substances being introduced to them. Ricci, for instance, recalled her struggles with addiction after landing her first role at the age of 10, saying,

"I immediately went right to drugs and alcohol in my teens... I don't remember feeling like there was any other way to be happy."

Similarly, Alyson Stoner recounted her own experiences with substance abuse and rebellion during her Disney Channel days.

Demi Lovato, who gained fame on Disney Channel's Camp Rock, has been open about their battles with addiction and mental health, which were exacerbated by the pressures of childhood stardom. Lovato described the difficulty of distinguishing their self-worth from their success, saying,

"I looked at my success as my self-worth. I had a really hard time differentiating the two."

This need for external validation, compounded by a grueling work schedule, led to Lovato's well-documented struggles with sobriety.

Drew Barrymore, too, has been candid about the long-lasting effects of childhood fame. Growing up in a famous family, Drew Barrymore started using alcohol at age 9, leading to rehab by the time she was 13. She refers to herself as a "walking cautionary tale," having seen her family members also battle addiction. Today, she views her sobriety as a way to honor the Barrymore legacy.

Child Star not only chronicles the harrowing tales of addiction but also aims to highlight the need for better protection for young actors. The documentary concludes on an uplifting note, featuring Lovato speaking to young performers about the importance of well-being, family, and friends over fame.

The film also emphasizes the Looking Ahead program, which seeks to provide legal safeguards for children in the entertainment industry.

As more former child stars speak out about their experiences, documentaries like Child Star remind the public of the need for reform in how child actors are treated. For Drew Barrymore and Lovato, sharing their stories is part of a larger conversation about recovery, accountability, and protecting the next generation of young stars.


Edited by Apoorva Jujjavarapu
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