Demi Lovato ‘Awake’ After Suspected Drug Overdose, Rep Says
UPDATED: Demi Lovato is now awake after being hospitalized on Tuesday in Los Angeles after a suspected drug overdose.
“Demi is awake and with her family who want to express thanks to everyone for the love, prayers, and support,” Lovato’s rep said in a statement to Variety. “Some of the information being reported is incorrect and they respectfully ask for privacy and not speculation as her health and recovery is the most important thing right now.”
According to law enforcement officials, the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a medical emergency at the 8000 block of Laurel View Drive in the Hollywood Hills, where Lovato’s home is located. before noon.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ, which was first to report the news, that Lovato, who was found unconscious, was treated with Narcan — a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose — at her home before being transported to a local hospital. TMZ initially reported that Lovato had overdosed on heroin.
The “Sorry Not Sorry” singer, 25, has struggled with substance abuse for years. Lovato revealed in June that she had relapsed just months after celebrating six years of sobriety.
“To the ones who never left me / We’ve been down this road before / I’m so sorry, I’m not sober anymore,” Lovato sings in her recent single “Sober” off of her sixth album, “Tell Me You Love Me.”
Lovato has received treatment for bipolar disorder, bulimia, and substance abuse. She chronicled her daily struggles with recovery in the 2017 YouTube original documentary “Simply Complicated.” In the movie, Lovato opened up about using cocaine while filming her 2012 doc, “Stay Strong.”
Lovato, who began her acting career on the popular children’s series “Barney & Friends,” rose to fame on the Disney Channel. She appeared in the short series “As the Bell Rings” and show “Sonny With a Chance,” in addition the hit 2008 Disney Channel Original Movie “Camp Rock,” co-starring the Jonas Brothers. Lovato said her drinking escalated during her Disney Channel days.
She performed a concert in Paso Robles, Calif., on Sunday.
Lovato’s show in Atlantic City, N.J., set to take place on Thursday, was scrapped on Tuesday following her hospitalization. The news was followed by the cancellation of tonight’s episode of the Fox game show “Beat Shazam,” which featured an appearance by Lovato. The episode was taped in April 2017. “In light of recent reports, we have decided to replace the episode of ‘Beat Shazam’ with another all-new episode,” the network in a statement. “Our thoughts go out to Demi and her family.”