Drugs at their fingertips, intense pressure: Why child stars fall into addiction
The death of actress Hayden Panettiere has sparked a conversation about the pressures faced by child stars and their vulnerability to substance abuse. Experts note that early exposure to fame and high-stress environments can contribute to long-term addiction issues.
Why it matters
It draws attention to the systemic mental health and safety risks within the entertainment industry for young performers.
Image source, Getty Images By Madeline Halpert Published 1 hour ago Hayden Panettiere was 16 when drugs first arrived in her life in Hollywood.
Ahead of a red carpet event for the hit series Heroes, she has said someone on her team handed her a pill to help amp up her energy. The hit sci-fi NBC series had catapulted the teen into a household name - and that brought with it intense pressure and exhaustion she says felt overwhelming.
"Within minutes, a wave of energy washed over me, like I'd just woken up from the most refreshing night's sleep of my life," Panettiere wrote about that pill in her memoir, which was released just months before her death.
She called it "the gateway drug that ushered me toward the good of pharmaceuticals and the downfall of addiction".
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in