02/11/2023

Lucy Hale Talks About Her Alcohol Addiction: ‘My Drinking Was Never Normal’

Lucy Hale opens up about her struggles with alcohol and addiction!

In a recent appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, the 34-year-old actress candidly discussed her earliest memories of drinking and the subsequent challenges it brought to her life, marking the first time she’s opened up publicly about the experience.

Lucy Hale Scans Blacking Out At 12 From Drinking Alcohol

MEGA

“The first time I drank alcohol… I was maybe 12 or 13? I was in Florida, on vacation… and we were drinking Green Apple Pucker,” Hale recalled. “I remember my first experience with alcohol was the same as when it ended. I fainted – at the age of 12. I don’t remember what happened, I threw up, I got really sick, and I remember being very upset when I realized what had happened.”

Hale stated, “I was like, ‘Oh my God, my mom is going to be so upset with me.'”

Lucy Hale Reveals ‘Drinking To Escape Something’

MEGAThe Pretty Little Liars star went on to share that although he continued to drink intermittently from the ages of 12 to 18, it was during this period that his drinking escalated, consistently leading him down challenging and dark paths.

“I remember the shame after every drinking experience because my drinking was never normal,” Hale revealed. “Literally every time I drink … it’s very clear I drink to escape from something, even at a young age.”

Hale detailed, “It wasn’t until my early 20s that I realized I had a problem.”

Go To Rehab

MEGA

It was during this period that he became aware of how often he thought about drinking and the discomfort he felt when socializing without alcohol. This realization prompted him to take steps to seek help.

“I went to rehab when I was 23,” Hale shared. “I don’t think anyone is on the show [Pretty Little Liars] know And that was my choice too.”

“That was an important moment in my life,” he emphasized. “[However]I wasn’t ready to stop drinking, which is why I didn’t achieve sobriety until I was 32.”

Lucy Hale Says Nothing Helped At First

MEGABefore achieving sobriety, Hale mentioned that she explored various forms of treatment, but at first, none of them proved successful for her.

“I’ve tried a lot of different things: rehab, outpatient, inpatient, trauma center, therapy, medications, you name it,” shared the “Truth or Dare” actress. “And there is also a very strong desire to quit.”

Being Famous Can ‘Challenge’ For Simplicity

MEGAAs a celebrity in the public eye in his 20s, Hale found it difficult to stop drinking, especially when he had surrounded himself with friends who faced similar problems. Ultimately, his drinking became a gateway to drugs and more damaging decisions. During this period, he kept his inner struggle under wraps.

“There’s no way in hell I’m going to talk publicly about this [back then],” Hale said. “I’m so ashamed of myself and my choices and the people I’ve been drinking with.”

Pandemic Helped Lucy Hale Overcome Her Drinking Problem

MEGAHale emphasized that his two-year journey of sobriety had a significant connection to his battle with COVID-19 during the pandemic. Forced isolation, a sober lifestyle, and avoidance of social scenarios acted as a transformative period, allowing him to break free from his drinking pattern and make positive steps in his recovery.