Jackie O Henderson reveals private drug addiction hell

Radio host Jackie “O” Henderson has revealed a private battle with drug addiction.

The Kyle and Jackie O Show star broke down in tears as she shared the struggle and recovery that occurred two years ago.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Jackie O bravely shares drug battle.

Henderson said she was “badly addicted” to painkillers, sleeping pills and consuming alcohol for three years.

In November 2022 she checked into rehab for a month-long stay at the Betty Ford Centre in Palm Springs, California.

She delivered her story on air by reading the prologue of her memoir, Jackie O: The Whole Truth, which comes out in Australia next Tuesday.

The radio host said she was feeling “so nervous” to read out the excerpt, as it was “something I haven’t been very forthcoming about or very truthful about”.

Henderson recalled feeling “diminished, untethered and alone”.

“By that point, I had no self-esteem, so I was insecure, vulnerable, and heartbroken,” she read.

“It was a recipe for disaster, and I took the coward’s way out to escape those feelings.”

Only a very small group of friends knew of Henderson’s struggles, with Sandilands also learning the news with the public on Thursday.

“I just didn’t want anyone to know until I had at least gotten a year or more of sobriety under my belt,” Henderson said.

“I can only speak to my experience because my addiction is so different to anyone else’s.

“But people can ask me anything they want, and I’m OK with that. I brought this up, I put it out there myself, so I’m well and truly OK talking about it. I’m excited that I can be more authentic than I’ve ever been.”

Henderson recalled how in November 2022 she had left the radio show three weeks earlier than they were expected to wrap up for the year.

“But I know I won’t make it that far, I’m hanging on by a thread,” she read from her book.

On the Friday afternoon she recorded a message to be played Monday morning as if she was in the studio, telling her audience she was sick and taking some time off.

“I’m nervous about this prerecord because I’m not going to be telling the whole truth to our listeners,” she said.

“There’s only one thing to do today, get on a plane for Los Angeles. My best friend and manager Gemma O’Neill is with me … she tells me I won’t need any fancy dresses where I’m going.”

Henderson recalled grabbing lunch with O’Neill the day of their flight and being “teary”.

“Not because I don’t want to go on this journey but because I don’t have the faintest idea what it will be like and that scares me.”

At the Betty Ford Centre she was enrolled in a 28-day, 12-step program to “treat the substance dependence and drug addiction I’ve been able to keep secret for three long and painful years”.

She told Sandilands she consumed her final tablet “the day of” checking into rehab, explaining that facility staff had said it was “too dangerous” to attempt to quit beforehand.

The 49-year-old said there were “lots of different reasons” for her addiction, but did not go into any on-air.

Wiping away her tears, shesaid she was “not crying because I’m ashamed, I’m crying because I kept this in for so long ... saying this out loud is scary”.

“I had no idea,” Sandilands said.

“You’re just so anti-drug that’s the shock of it ... You were never a party girl ... I feel embarrassed I sat here every day and had no clue.”

Henderson said she went back and forth about whether to share her story but decided to make it public, “to use my story to help people”.

The radio star said she “could not be more proud of her daughter” Kitty, 13, in whom she confided before making the news public.

The mother of one said her teenage daughter had “zero judgment” and encouraged her mother to share her journey.

Discussing the difficult time, Henderson said that her best friend and business partner Gemma O’Neill was aware of her battle.

The radio host said O’Neill “saved my life”.

“That’s why I called this book The Whole Truth,” she said, before “apologising” to her listeners for not sharing the news sooner.

She shared her gratitude that the story had never previously emerged and she was soon to celebrate her two-year sobriety milestone.

“My life has changed for the better and I’m really, really thankful that I did it,” she said at the end of the segment.