'X Factor' Judge Demi Lovato Twitter, Posts Substance Abuse Link, 'Not Ashamed,' She Says
Demi Lovato once struggled with a substance abuse problem, but the singer made it clear that she's not embarrassed.
On Friday, she tweeted the hashtag "NotAshamed" along with a link to the website for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA.)
The organization credits itself as an "agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities."
Fans showed support for Lovato and responded with positive thoughts.
Demi Lovato Photos Then & Now
"There's no reason to be.. Not for you, not for me, not for anyone," tweeted one fan.
"I'm so unbelievably proud of you! I love you with all that I have... Never change <3" tweeted another.
The current X Factor judge has been an advocate for people struggling with substance abuse because of her own experiences. The singer entered rehab in 2010 when she was 18 years old.
"I'm not gonna lie. I was self-medicating. I was doing things like drinking and using [drugs], like a lot of teens do to numb their pain," she told Seventeen about her decision to enter an Illinois rehab during a 2012 interview.
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During B96's Pepsi Summer Smash in June, the 21-year-old also spoke about her past with the Chicago audience.
"I just want you guys to know that when I come to Chicago, I never forget that this place is the place that saved my life," she said. "If anybody out there is dealing with an eating disorder, substance abuse, cutting, bullying, whatever it is -- I want you guys to know that I've been through it and that I've gotten through it and you can do it too."
