Demi Lovato checks in to rehab following apparent overdose

Demi Lovato has entered rehab, a source confirms to Yahoo Entertainment. The “Sober” singer was released from the hospital Saturday and immediately entered inpatient treatment for substance abuse issues. It’s unclear how long the singer will remain at the facility, but TMZ reports it will be for an “extended” period of time, meaning at least 30 days. Yahoo reached out to Lovato’s rep for comment but did not receive a response.

Demi Lovato performs at Capital’s Summertime Ball With Vodafone at Wembley Stadium in London. (Photo: Isabel Infantes/PA Wire)
Demi Lovato performs at Capital’s Summertime Ball With Vodafone at Wembley Stadium in London. (Photo: Isabel Infantes/PA Wire)

The 25-year-old singer spoke out Sunday for the first time since her apparent overdose.

“I have always been transparent about my journey with addiction. What I’ve learned is that this illness is not something that disappears or fades with time, it is something I must continue to overcome and have not done yet,” she wrote on Instagram. “I want to thank God for keeping me alive and well. To my fans, I am forever grateful for all of your love and support throughout this past week and beyond. Your positive thoughts and prayers have helped me navigate through this difficult time.

Paramedics responded to a medical emergency call at Lovato’s home on July 24. The singer was purportedly unconscious and revived with Narcan, a medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Despite earlier reports, a source maintains to Yahoo that Lovato’s suspected overdose was not heroin-related.

“I want to thank my family, my team, and the staff at Cedars-Sinai who have been by my side this entire time. Without them, I wouldn’t here writing this letter to all of you,” she wrote. The singer remained hospitalized for 11 days, partly due to “complications” suffered that are common after a drug overdose.

Lovato concluded: “I now need time to heal and focus on my sobriety and road to recovery. The love you have all shown me will never be forgotten, and I look forward to the day where I can say I came out the other side. I will keep fighting.”

This is Lovato’s third trip to rehab. She first sought treatment in 2010, and, along with treatment for drugs and alcohol, she received therapy for an eating disorder and self-harming. The Camp Rock star was also diagnosed as bipolar. Lovato relapsed upon her release, and she later admitted, “I wasn’t ready to get sober.”

Lovato returned to rehab in 2012 and celebrated six years of sobriety in March. However, she admitted to falling off the wagon two months ago in her song “Sober.” The singer has received enormous support on social media from her fans and famous friends in the wake of the incident.

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