She was introduced to the nightlife of Studio 54, surrounded by celebrities and substances before she had the maturity to process any of it. The freedom that came with fame only accelerated her downfall.
“I really parented myself, so I am not mad at my mom or dad. I was more disappointed in my own parenting,” she once said.
Addiction at an Unthinkable Age
By eight, she was already calling herself a “party girl.” By 11, alcohol had taken hold of her life. At 12, her addiction had spiraled out of control. A year later, she attempted suicide and was admitted to a mental institution, where she spent 18 months confronting her addictions.
“When I was 13, that was probably the lowest. Just knowing that I really was alone. And it felt… terrible.”
Following her release, she briefly lived with singer David Crosby and his wife, who believed she needed structure and sobriety. But the damage had already been done.
Her mother eventually placed her in a strict institution, a decision she would later say changed her life.
“My mom locked me up in an institution. But it did give an amazing discipline. I needed that whole insane discipline.”
She later added, “It taught me boundaries. Until that point, I had none.”
