Lindsay Lohan grew up in the public eye. The actress skyrocketed to fame at 12 when she played twins in the comedy movie The Parent Trap. After that, Lohan starred in several other major film roles and released two albums. Unfortunately, all the fame and pressure became too much for the young celebrity, and soon tabloids were running never-ending headlines about “Lindsay Lohan being on drugs.”
Lindsay Lohan on Drugs: A Look at Her Public Struggles With Addiction
Addiction is never easy. But Lindsay Lohan’s addiction was especially difficult because it was on public display for the whole world to watch. Between photos, interviews and the things the actress herself has shared, there’s a clear outline of how her addiction progressed in her early years.
In January 2007, Lohan entered a rehab treatment program for drug abuse for the first time. But just a few months after she completed that program, she was arrested for DUI. This led to her second stint in rehab, which lasted 45 days. Unfortunately, she relapsed after leaving the program and was arrested in July for drunk driving and cocaine possession. Shortly after, in August 2007, she entered rehab for a third time. This time, she only stayed for 23 days.
That year was the start of Lohan’s public downfall. Her mug shots were on every tabloid cover, and news articles detailed her arrest records.
The actress continued to spend years in court dealing with the consequences of her addiction. In September 2010, she tweeted, “Regrettably, I did, in fact, fail my most recent drug test” and that she was “working hard to overcome” her drug addiction. That month, she entered rehab for the fourth time.
She continued to have more troubles, including being arrested for stealing a necklace and for failing to comply with her probation requirements.
In 2014, Lindsay released a docuseries in which she discussed her addiction struggles with Oprah Winfrey. During the series, she admitted to her cocaine use, saying, “I really haven’t done [cocaine] more than 10 or 15 times. … No, it never felt good the next day. It was a party thing. I snorted it. I never injected anything other than getting B12 shots. It went hand in hand with drinking.”
The actress also shared that she had an addiction to prescription drugs, such as Ambien and Adderall, but all her substance abuse issues stemmed from alcohol. “That, in the past, was a gateway to other things for me.”
What She’s Shared About Her Mental Health Journey
Lohan knows her addiction is an internal battle she faces, saying, “I’m my own worst enemy, and I know that.” And despite having a tumultuous relationship with her parents, the actress didn’t lay blame on others. She accepts responsibility for her past errors. “I don’t blame anyone for my mistakes. I don’t blame anyone for [me] driving a car while drinking. I don’t blame anyone for me having to go to court. I did that. I did that, and I’m not proud of it.”
The Pressures of Fame and the Impact on Recovery
In an interview on Piers Morgan Live, Lohan admitted, “When I was younger, I was definitely going out too much, and I was drinking too much.” Her drug and alcohol use could have been her way of coping with the struggles of fame. Constant pressure from the media and paparazzi following was simply too much to handle.
Sadly, this is an outcome seen in many people who achieve fame at an early age. Other young celebrities, including Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Britney Spears and Justin Bieber, have had similar struggles. Too often, young celebrities are readily exposed to substances and have easy access to them, which can lead to the temptation to self-medicate during challenging times.
Recently, Lohan reflected on this time in her life and said she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder because of it. “I don’t ever want my family to experience being chased by the paparazzi the way I was. They were terrifying moments I had in my life — I have PTSD to the extreme from those things. The most invasive situations.”
Now the actress and her family live in Dubai, where paparazzi photos are illegal. “There’s no worry of, like, I can’t go to eat at this place ’cause someone’s gonna take a picture of my son. I feel very safe.”
Lohan prioritizes therapy and self-care with breathwork and meditation as a way to stay grounded in her sobriety.
Lessons From Her Story About Relapse, Resilience and Support
Lindsay Lohan’s recovery journey wasn’t a straight path. She experienced a handful of relapses between 2007 and 2015, but she never gave up and kept trying to get sober. As of 2025, the actress has been sober for more than a decade.
Her story highlights that recovery is possible. No matter how many setbacks someone has, they can find the path to sobriety.
Destigmatizing Addiction Through Celebrity Transparency
According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, less than 10% of people with past-year alcohol use disorder receive any treatment for their addiction. Yet addiction is a highly treatable disease. With professional intervention, individuals can get the help they need and learn to live a sober life.
Lohan’s comments about her past have had a big impact. Her willingness to discuss her addiction and recovery helps to destigmatize the topic. Her story spreads the message that addiction isn’t a choice, showcases the harmful consequences of partying and illustrates that long-term healing is possible. It would certainly be easier for Lohan to ignore her past and never speak about the moments in her life that can be seen as embarrassing. Instead, she leans into the conversation and helps to spread an important message.
Compassion and Long-Term Healing
The internet and media weren’t kind to Lohan when she was a young actress trying to figure out life. She’s a good reminder of the power of compassion. While she eventually was able to heal, perhaps if the media had been kinder to the actress during her difficult time, she’d have been able to pull herself out of her troubles sooner.
Addiction Treatment at Restore Mental Health
Healing is possible. Let the compassionate, experienced professionals at Restore help you find the way to a better tomorrow. We tailor our treatment programs to each patient’s specific needs, so you get exactly the support you need. Contact us today to learn more.
