Kelly Osbourne explains why she went to rehab

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Second-generation substance abuser Kelly Osbourne says she was heading down the same dangerous path as her dad, rocker Ozzy Osbourne, before she checked herself into rehab a few months ago. The newly-engaged reality star says she had two options to free herself of a long-standing addiction to painkillers: rehab or death.

Three weeks after completing a month-long stay in a rehabilitation center, Kelly Osbourne tells PEOPLE that she’s been addicted to painkillers since she was a teenager.

“I had my tonsils taken out [at age 13], and they gave me liquid Vicodin,” the TV personality recalls of her first use of painkillers. “I found, when I take this, people like me. I’m having fun, I’m not getting picked on. It became a confidence thing.”

Osbourne, 24, says that despite two trips to rehab in 2004 and 2005, she has never been clean until now.

The star, who reunites with her family for a March 31 FOX special called Osbournes Reloaded (their first collaboration since MTV’s The Osbournes), decided to seek help after suffering an intense relapse this year. Using downers to sleep through the days, she says, “I knew if I didn’t get help, I would die.”

“I’m getting a second chance [at my career],” she says, “and I want to be present for it.”

[From People]

I think the two younger Osbourne children are going to face substance abuse problems for their entire lives. And it’s no surprise, considering the role model they’ve had. Kelly’s brother, Jack Osbourne, has been in rehab as well for a drinking problem. It’s great that Kelly has enough self awareness to realize at an early age that she was heading into dangerous territory. But it’s never going to be easy for either of them to stay sober.

I think this new Osbournes variety show is going to tank – but what do I know? I still can’t understand why “Two and a Half Men” is on the air.

Here’s Kelly Osbourne and her boyfriend Luke Worrall arriving to watch Lady Gaga performing at the Wiltern theatre in Los Angeles on Monday. Images thanks to WENN.com.

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14 Responses to “Kelly Osbourne explains why she went to rehab”

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  1. pixiegirl says:

    I hope she kicks her addictions. As a side note, her skin is flawless!

  2. Codzilla says:

    I generally don’t mind Kelly, but this rehab revolving door crap being played out in the press is getting old. Just do what you’re going to do and STFU, already.

  3. boomchakaboom says:

    Nobody deserves relief from the pain life throws around until they at least hit 50. You gotta get your chops first, in my humble opinion. Teenagers on pain killers? Give me a f**kin’ break.

  4. Alexis says:

    Seriously, Two and a Half Men, WTF!

  5. manda says:

    @ boomchakab–I agree with you! Why on earth would someone get vicodin for tonsilectomy? Why not tylenol 3 and some ice cream? I got tylenol 3 when I had my wisdom teeth out, I got vicodin (pill form) when I broke a rib. Neither did jack squat for my pain, and wow, I’m not on either one anymore.

  6. Bellatrix says:

    They both look as though they’re about to join the Twilight cast as extra vampires…

    I do hope she kicks her addictions but I wonder if talking openly about it to the press over and over again (claiming every time she’s clean finally although, the next rehab stint, she’ll just admit she wasn’t clean after all etc.) isn’t just a part of a repeated mecanism?
    I somehow believe we’re going to get the exact same story from her within two-three years from now.

  7. HEB says:

    I have to venture a guess that most of the above commenters have never been addicted to something. You just dont know what its like, and its annoying to hear you say “just don’t do it”, thats like saying to someone who is clinically depressed “get more upbeat”.

    You will never understand until you’ve been inside.
    I wish her all the best.

  8. Larissa says:

    painkillers, RIGHT!

    I don´t judge her for doing drugs, am I the only one here that will ever admit, been there done that?

    honestly, I wasn´t just a occasional drug user, but I did it, and I am clean for more than 4 year now! If I could, anyone can! You just really reaaally have to want to!

    And I disagree that because of her family background she will forever and ever have drug problems, that is just non-sense!!!!

    What fucks it up for them(and any drug user) is the lifestyle,the parties,the so called friends,the easy access to it, if you don´t get away from all that, then it´s just not that simple!!!

  9. Codzilla says:

    manda: I don’t think there’s anything on this earth that can ease the pain of an injured rib. I bruised one last year and it hurt intensely for MONTHS. Every breath, cough, laugh, or sneeze was excruciating. Went through one of those Walmart-sized bottles of generic ibuprofen in what seems like days, lol.

    OK, what were we talking about, again?

  10. Elizabeth says:

    I truly feel for her. It is really a grey area issue for people that have been in her shoes, as opposed to people who just don’t understand why an addict can’t stop, or why they started in the first place. Seeing as I’ve been in her shoes I truly do understand. But… it is not at all impossible for me to see how someone from the other side of the fence just wouldn’t be able to get it. It is a slippery, let me reiterate, a VERY slippery slope, especially when you are predisposed to these sorts of things. The whole oh just stop whining and get on with your life argument just doesn’t apply to someone who is truly in the depths of an addiction. It tends to run along side with serious mental issues, the drugs becoming a sort of self medicating so to speak. Someone who has never had to deal with this sort of thing cannot possibly understand what someone in the depths of true addiction is going through, and how could they? I feel for the people who are family members or friends of addicts. It must be truly agonizing not to mention angering to watch someone you care about whither away and not be able to get why they can’t just stop. Anyway now I’m rambling, my point being I feel much solace for her and truly hope she can eventually overcome her demons, because being an addict truly is a big bitch.

  11. Jeri says:

    It would sound more sincere if she hadn’t made nearly the same comments after her last rehab. Didn’t she go in right after slapping a reporter (& she hasn’t been to court yet?!!

  12. boomchakaboom says:

    @Elizabeth:I’ve been in her shoes too, and so have a multitude of my family members and friends. There is no rehab in this part of the country, but you know what else works wonders for this type of problem? Jail. And not the 87b minute variety. It’s the same as rehab but minus the frills. You’re cut off from your sources, forced to live with your mistake in the most horrible fashion imaginable, and you learn that you got yourself there and if you never want to go back, it’s totally up to you. That’s how it works for the non-rich & famous. If these people had to attend a poor people’s form of rehab, and they do offer rehab in jail, they would completely change their lifestyle. No sympathy here.

  13. Z says:

    Yeah, addiction is tough. I wish her the best. She did say (in People) that she knows she’ll never be “cured”. I think it’s great that she acknowledges that…I hope she remembers it. It’s not easy. She doesn’t have to have drug problems the rest of her life, but she’ll be susceptible.

    Hey anyone remember “Just Say NO”…or am I the oldest one up here. That was the joke of the 80’s, I thought. Right! Just say no.

    You are so right, Larissa, the only way to get clean is change your life style and change who you hang out with. I had to dump all my friends.

  14. orion70 says:

    if she’s trying to avoid pain, she might want to start with not going to see Lady Gaga perform…..IMHO.