Turns out, actor Cory Monteith couldn’t be more different from his squeaky clean onscreen person on TV Show Glee, Finn Hudson: Monteith recently discussed having a serious teen drug addiction problem that was so severe that he dropped out of high school at age 16.

Says Monteith:  “I burned a lot of bridges. I was out of control.”

Though Monteith reports that he attended drug rehab at the age of 19, he said he didn’t really begin the process of fighting against drug addiction until he had an experience that he calls a “crystallizing event.”

Monteith tells his story: “I stole a significant amount of money from a family member. I knew I was going to get caught, but I was so desperate I didn’t care. It was a cry for help. I was confronted and I said, ‘Yeah, it was me.’ It was the first honorable, truthful thing that had come out of my mouth in years.”

His parents then staged an intervention for him and he agreed to go to drug addiction treatment. Says Monteith: “That’s when I first went to rehab. I did the stint but then went back to doing exactly what I left off doing.”

It was at that time that Monteith moved to a small town in Canada and stopped abusing drugs and alcohol. He returned his focus to school and earned a diploma as well and began to work on his acting career. It paid off: he soon landed a part on the hit TV, Glee, and hasn’t looked back.

Monteith doesn’t necessarily view his story as a success story that should be emulated.

Says Monteith:  “I don’t want kids to think it’s okay to drop out of school and get high, and they’ll be famous actors, too. But for those people who might give up: Get real about what you want and go after it. If I can, anyone can.

“I’m not Finn Hudson. I’m lucky on so many counts—I’m lucky to be alive.”

Hopefully, Monteith’s story will reach the right ears. Thousands of teenagers watch Glee religiously, and it’s likely they’ll hear Monteith’s story. While he doesn’t view his story as a success story, any story that includes drug addiction and ends with a clean and sober person living a healthy and balanced life is definitely a story of accomplishment, and it’s spreading the word that rehabilitation is possible that will encourage those living with addiction to get the help they need.

If you or someone you love is living with an active drug addiction, contact us today for more information about our California drug rehab program here at The Canyon.

Tags: celebrity drug addiction, cory monteith, drug rehab success story, glee drug addiction, teen drug addiction

   

About Valeria W.

       

Valeria W. likes to consider herself "an encyclopedia" of addiction and rehab knowledge. Valeria lives to hear from people who have been positively influenced by her work - and sought out drug or alcohol rehab help as a result of the information she has provided.

Also written by: Valeria W.