Challenges in the Life of Demi Lovato in a Detailed Timeline

Life is full of challenges, and Demi Lovato faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Demetria Devonne "Demi" Lovato is a versatile American entertainer, recognized as a singer, songwriter, and actress. Lovato began their career on Barney & Friends before gaining wider attention in the Disney Channel's As the Bell Rings. A breakthrough role came with the musical television film Camp Rock and its sequel, where Lovato played Mitchie Torres. The soundtrack's "This Is Me," a debut single and duet, became a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

November 1, 2010: Withdrawal from Jonas Brothers Tour and Entering Treatment

On November 1, 2010, Demi Lovato withdrew from the Jonas Brothers: Live in Concert tour and entered a treatment facility for "physical and emotional issues" after punching a backup dancer, Alex Welch, and being convinced by her family and management team that she needed help.

January 28, 2011: Completion of In-Patient Treatment

On January 28, 2011, Demi Lovato completed her in-patient treatment at Timberline Knolls and returned home, acknowledging struggles with bulimia, self-harm, and self-medication with drugs and alcohol, and being diagnosed with bipolar disorder during her treatment.

2011: Sharing Bipolar Diagnosis

In 2011, Demi Lovato shared that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

2012: Performance on American Idol While Hungover

In 2012, Demi Lovato's drug and alcohol addiction began to impact her ability to perform live and promote her Unbroken album, referencing a performance on American Idol where she was severely hungover.

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January 2013: Living in Sober-Living Facility

In January 2013, it was reported that Demi Lovato had been residing in a sober-living facility in Los Angeles for over a year to avoid relapsing into addiction and her eating disorder.

2017: Release of YouTube Documentary Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated

In her 2017 YouTube documentary Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated, Demi Lovato revealed that her treatment at Timberline Knolls had not been entirely successful and admitted to struggling with alcoholism and a cocaine addiction in the year following her stint in the treatment center.

June 21, 2018: Release of "Sober" Single

On June 21, 2018, Demi Lovato released the single "Sober", revealing a relapse after six years of sobriety.

July 24, 2018: Opioid Overdose and Hospitalization

On July 24, 2018, Demi Lovato was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after an opioid overdose at her home, reportedly overdosing on oxycodone laced with fentanyl and being revived with naloxone. Doctors said she had only 5-10 minutes to live if no one had found her.

December 2018: Dismissal of Overdose Rumors and Thanking Fans on Twitter

In December 2018, Demi Lovato took to Twitter to dismiss rumors regarding her overdose and thanked fans for their support, stating that she would eventually share the full story when she was ready but needed space and time to heal.

2018: Raped During Overdose

In 2018, Demi Lovato stated she was raped during her drug overdose, realizing a month after the incident that she was not in a place to consent at that point.

2018: Worsened Bulimia and Relapse

In 2018, Demi Lovato's worsened struggles with bulimia contributed to her eventual drug overdose as she relapsed three months prior to the incident due to being extremely unhappy.

January 2020: Grammy Awards Performance and "Anyone" Release

In January 2020, Demi Lovato made her first musical appearance since her hiatus with a performance of single "Anyone" at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. The song, which was recorded four days prior to her 2018 drug overdose, was released on iTunes immediately after.

2020: Appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show

During a 2020 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Demi Lovato elaborated on how her worsened struggles with bulimia in 2018 contributed to her eventual drug overdose, attributing these struggles to the extreme measures that her then-manager took to control the food she ingested.

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March 2021: Moderate Sobriety Announcement

In March 2021, Demi Lovato revealed that she was not completely sober, choosing to drink alcohol and smoke marijuana in moderation, a decision met with disagreement from many friends.

2021: Revelation of Rape at Age 15

In 2021, Demi Lovato revealed that she was raped at age 15 while working on the Disney Channel, and that the rapist was a co-star.

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2021: Revised Diagnosis of ADHD

In 2021, Demi Lovato stated that she initially accepted her bipolar diagnosis and shared this in 2011 because it explained her erratic behavior, but later came to believe it was inaccurate and her diagnosis has been revised to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

2022: Interview on Call Her Daddy Podcast

In a 2022 interview on the podcast Call Her Daddy, Demi Lovato revealed that she began using opiates at the age of 13 after a car accident, and was already drinking by that time which led her to use cocaine at the age of 17.