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Amber Valletta Opens Up About Drug, Alcohol Addiction: “By 10 I Had Been High”

Amber Valletta attends an event on July 10, 2014
Amber Valletta opened up about her struggles with addiction in a live talk on July 11.

Amber Valletta was an open book on Friday, July 11, when she gave an incredibly personal talk in front of a live audience for the site MindBodyGreen. The actress and longtime model revealed her struggles with addiction, detailing her journey to sobriety for the crowd. 

Related: PHOTOS: Celeb drug confessions

“I’m coming out to you today, and I’m not coming out to you in the way you think,” Valletta said smiling. “I’m coming out to you today as an addict. I suffer from a disease called addiction.” 

Throughout her speech, the Revenge star reiterated that only she was to blame for her addiction, but gave the audience an idea of how her problems began. 

Related: PHOTOS: Celebs who have been to rehab

“When I was 8, I started trying to get out of myself,” she said. “I sniffed markers, I sniffed glue, fingernail polish, anything that could give me a buzz. Then I found drugs that were around the culture of my family. By 10 I had been high. By 18 I moved to Europe, I found cocaine and alcohol. I was in a business where drugs and alcohol were widely accepted. They were given to me.”

The 40-year-old, who landed a Vogue cover by age 25, also noted that drugs and alcohol affected every aspect of her life.  

“I put everything on the line for my addiction—all my friendships, my family, my job, I had a multi-million dollar deal. I showed up to the first day to shoot this campaign high and drunk,” she recalled. “I didn’t care, and that’s to just show you addiction takes you to the worst places. I showed up to my uncle’s bedside—he was dying—and I was still high, still drunk and looking for a place to go do another line.” 

Related: PHOTOS: Celebs' early modeling pictures

Valletta got sober at age 25, noting that it was the fear of death that led her to seek treatment. 

The 15-minute talk has already inspired many, with Valletta’s Revenge costars tweeting their support for her honesty. 

“Incredible talk on addiction by one of the most beautiful women I’ve met inside and out,” Revenge star Emily VanCamp wrote. 

Related: PHOTOS: Celebs who love models

“@ambervalletta @MindBodyGreen thank you for sharing your truth..stunningly honest and open xx,” Gabriel Mann added. 

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