Prince's death inspired an outpouring of grief and reflection among fans on fellow entertainers around the world. For former teen pop star Debbie Gibson, it also inspired an admission she’d kept private for decades: her own misuse of prescription drugs.
"I haven't fully articulated it until now and haven't spoke candidly until now," she tells "Oprah: Where Are They Now?" in the above video. "I'm kind of coming clean."
Gibson said she felt compelled to reveal her struggle after learning about Prince's untimely death last month. His official cause of death has not been released.
"When I heard the news about Prince and the fact that it might have been prescription drug-related, I really had a moment of, 'That's awful and that's sad -- and I can relate,'" she says. "And, unfortunately, 90 percent of the entertainment community can relate."
“It's a matter of time before someone's next, if people don't talk about this.”
Gibson explains how she was one of those entertainers who made choices that she now realizes were extremely unhealthy. And dangerous.
"I remember being on the road at 25, touring with theater, and doing my own cocktail of Tylenol PM and Xanax. It's like, 'Oh, I found a way to make the Xanax last longer with the Tylenol PM,'" she says. "I mean, it's as simple as that, and that is how performers get in so much trouble."
Noting the pervasive abuse of prescription drugs in the industry, Gibson issues a chilling warning that another tragedy like Prince's is inevitable.
"It's a matter of time before someone's next, if people don't talk about this and address themselves honestly," she says.
A way to honor Prince's legacy:
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