Chiara de Blasio, daughter of newly-elected New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, recently discussed her battle with mental illness and addiction in a YouTube video posted on December 24. The 19-year-old college sophomore said that dealing with clinical depression drove her to drink and abuse drugs. She said that she began trying illegal substances in order to bond with her peers, and while she started off as a casual user, it quickly spiraled into full-blown addiction.
In the video, de Blasio went into detail about her drug use, and how she tried to justify her actions by convincing herself that she was self-medicating. She also said that she has finished her treatment in a rehabilitation facility and is staying away from drugs and alcohol.
“It’s just important for people to realize,” de Blasio said, “that if you’re suffering and if you’re depressed, you’re dealing with mental illness, and you think that it might have something to do with your drug abuse or drinking, or if you’re just suffering from both of those at the same time […] getting sober is always a positive thing.”
De Blasio also made very little mention of her parents other than to say that they have been committed to helping her recover. She decided to release the video on her own because she wanted to inspire others who may think that they’re fighting their addiction battle alone.
If someone in your life is dependent on drugs or alcohol, let them know that you care. Contact Intervention Services today to learn how an interventionist can help your family.