Reality TV star Kelly Osbourne has opened up about her struggles with drugs and alcohol, revealing that she has been to substance abuse rehabilitation facilities seven times. In the documentary ”TMZ Investigates: Matthew Perry and the Secret Celebrity Drug Ring,” which is available on Hulu, Osbourne discusses her journey to recovery from addiction. She describes her first rehab experience as a “university on how to be a better drug addict,” where she learned various tricks from fellow addicts.
Osbourne gained fame through her appearance on the reality show “The Osbournes” alongside her family from 2002 to 2005. The TMZ documentary focuses on the circumstances surrounding actor Matthew Perry’s death and highlights flaws in rehab facilities that can lead to relapse among addicts.
During the documentary, Osbourne alleges that she witnessed people threatening to leave rehab until they were given prescription drugs such as Ambien or Valium. She claims that all of her drug dealers were doctors.
In October 2023, Perry passed away after receiving a fatal dose of ketamine. Two physicians, Drs. Mark Chavez and Salvador Plasencia, along with three others, have been charged in connection with his death.
Dr. David Campbell, clinical and program director at Recover Together Bend in Oregon, advises individuals seeking treatment for addiction to carefully review online reviews and staff credentials before making a decision. He warns against aggressive marketing tactics, unusual financial agreements, lack of focus on aftercare and long-term recovery when choosing a treatment facility.
Osbourne had previously admitted in an interview with Extra in 2021 that she had relapsed after being sober for over three years due to pandemic lockdowns and feeling content with her life at the time.
She also revealed during an episode of Red Table Talk in 2021 that her addiction journey began at just 13 years old when she was prescribed Vicodin following surgery for tonsillitis. From there, she progressed to stronger opioids like Percocet before eventually turning to heroin due to its lower cost.
Campbell explains that while it used to be common for younger individuals to be prescribed opioid medication in the past, this practice has significantly changed since Purdue Pharma’s involvement in promoting OxyContin as less addictive than it actually was.
He also acknowledges that there are some bad actors within the substance abuse industry who receive financial compensation for referring patients but emphasizes that this is not widespread or representative of reputable treatment centers.
