Demi Lovato reveals past substance abuse: 'I was doing things like drinking and using'

Demi Lovato has revealed new details about her troubled past and addictions.

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Celebrities who have been to rehab

Celebrities who have lost weight

Stories:

• Demi Lovato speaks out about eating disorder joke on Disney Channel show
• Demi Lovato returns to rehab, calls cutting scars 'beautiful battle wounds'
• Demi Lovato showcases bikini body after revealing eating disorders (Photo)

The 19-year-old singer and former Disney Channel star, who underwent treatment for "emotional and physical issues" more than a year ago and has talked about her struggles with eating disorders, told Seventeen magazine in an interview published in its February 2012 issue that she has also battled substance abuse.

"I'm not going to lie. I was self-medicating," she was quoted as saying. "I was doing things like drinking and using [drugs], like a lot of teens do to numb their pain."

Lovato did not elaborate more about which drugs or medications she abused. She says that now, "I don't drink, I don't do drugs, I don't throw up after my meals, I don't starve myself. There's nothing that I do that I feel ashamed of. I think sober is sexy. It's cool. I think it's way cooler to be above the influence than under the influence."

The New Mexico native rose to fame with the Disney Channel show "Sonny With A Chance" and the network's "Camp Rock" television movies, which starred the Jonas Brothers.

She performed at the pop group's concerts but left the tour in November 2010 and checked into a facility. She underwent nearly three months of inpatient treatment for what she called "physical and emotional" issues and returned to her Los Angeles home in January of 2011.

The following April, she talked about her issues on the ABC show "Good Morning America." She said thatshe has, throughout her life, struggled with food addiction, cutting and depression. Around the same time, she also told Seventeen magazine, regarding her rehab stint, that she "basically had a nervous breakdown."

Weeks later, the Disney Channel confirmed Lovato would not return to her show "Sonny With a Chance." The actress, who had played main character Sonny Munroe since the show began in 2009, said at the time that she wanted to focus on her music and that she didn't think shooting the series would be "healthy" for her recovery.

Nowadays, Lovato is learning to accept her body.

"I'm not supposed to be stick thin - my body's not made to be that way," she told Seventeen in her new interview. "I feel like I have a good butt. I don't have boobs, but I got a butt!"

In December of 2011, Lovato criticized the Disney Channel after watching a scene on its show "Shake It Up" that featured a joke about a model not eating. The singer and actress also reTweeted a follower's Tweet about a similar joke being made on an episode of "So Random," a spin-off of "Sonny With A Chance."

"What are we promoting here? #notfunnyATALL," Lovato wrote on her Twitter page. "I find it really funny how a company can lose one of their actress' from the pressures of an EATING DISORDER and yet still make joke about.."

The Disney Channel later responded to Lovato's Tweets, saying the episodes in question would be pulled, adding: "It's NEVER our intention to make light of eating disorders." Lovato later Tweeted her thanks.

In her latest interview with Seventeen, Lovato also opened up about her friendships with fellow Disney Channel alums, Miley Cyrus, star of the defunct show "Hannah Montana," and Selena Gomez of "Wizards of Waverly Place."

"There are two people that no matter how many times we fight, we will always be in each other's lives," she told Seventeen. "[Miley Cyrus and I] are strong-heade! d. Selen a [Gomez] and I, we never fight."

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(Pictured above: Demi Lovato arrives at the 12th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas on Nov. 10, 2011. Credit: Associated Press / Chris Pizzello)

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