Nick Carter Opens Up About "Excessive" Drug, Alcohol Use

Us Magazine - February 19, 2009 4:01 PM PST
Story photo: Nick Carter Opens Up About Us Magazine
Nick Carter opens up about his battle with drug and alcohol addiction in an episode of the Ellen DeGeneres Show that airs today.

"I would either go out at night or party [while on tour with the Backstreet Boys]," Carter says. "I didn't do a lot of morning drinking or anything of that sort. It would sort of be an occasional thing, but a lot of occasions that I would kind of make excuses to just go out to drink and party. It would be excessive."

Drugs "kind of came later in life," Carter continues. "Alcohol kind of kicked it off and then, once the alcohol kind of wasn't doing it for me, I would lean on other things."

Carter, 29, says he couldn't stop despite "rude awakenings, warning signs, DUIs.

See celebs' mugshots.

"I got the DUI and I realized that it was wrong," he goes on. "I decided to go and sort of punish myself. I went to the classes, did the community service and did everything that I was required to do. Then I would end up in a situation where I was like, 'Ok well I'll stop for six months and then after that, I would feel like it's OK to get back into it.' And sort of fool myself in a way."

The singer credits a healthy lifestyle with helping turn his life around.

"Working out definitely helped my self esteem, and it definitely made it easier for me to kind of push it aside," he says. "I just started replacing drinking and the parties...with healthier things like sports, video games."

Carter -- who was diagnosed with a weakening of the heart muscle called cardiomyopathy -- is sober now.

Check out the day's top news photos.

"My goal in life is to be the best person that I can be and try as hard as I can," he says. "I make mistakes, but...I realize that I'm human and...I don't punish myself for those mistakes.

"[I] continuously try to be that better person," he adds.

More news from Usmagazine.com

comments

show comments

comments

comments 1-10 of 82  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • Chaniqua F
    I hope everything goes well for him!
    report abuseposted November 14, 2009 3:24 PM PST
  • Alison C
    It takes a true man to admit weaknesses on national television and recognize them to the point of wanting to turn it around.
    report abuseposted November 14, 2009 3:09 PM PST
  • Alison C
    It takes a true man to admit weaknesses on national television and recognize them to the point of wanting to turn it around.
    report abuseposted November 14, 2009 3:09 PM PST
  • cindy
    HINICK UR MYONE AND ONLY IDOL
    report abuseposted August 10, 2009 3:07 AM PDT
  • cindy
    nick was si nice guy for me hope all luck with him in this year was god giving him
    report abuseposted July 9, 2009 11:26 AM PDT
  • cindy
    hi im so sad when i read the news about him
    report abuseposted July 9, 2009 11:25 AM PDT
  • musicfan2009
    Her name is Sandra and she has been causing problems with me &other fans for years & lying to every person BSB and I know, even people from my jobs over the year, in college, & grade school since I was 8, 16 years ago. Good for him, but Sandra helped caused most of those problems by encouring BSB to party like they were Posion or Spinal Tap and Aerosmith combined. Even thro
    report abuseposted June 5, 2009 8:19 PM PDT
  • musicfan2009
    Yes, it is all true and they give me enough trouble as it is. I can't even watch TBN without hearing about or hearing more of what they have done against me. All over their top webmaster, whom is Nick Carter's old neighbor & techiniqually, the 2nd BSB fan ever, outsider their family and after me "The Original First Fan". Tell Nick to put more him in his se
    report abuseposted June 5, 2009 8:17 PM PDT
  • musicfan2009
    At least, you didn't ghost write, date him, and do crazy stuff to prove you loved him like I have done the past 16 years. Unlike Sandra, Sandra just lies to them everyday about everything to how BSB looks to their problems like on here to their music and BSB deserves better than that and needs to stop letting her call on the shots when I can prove her and others, etc. are committing frauds
    report abuseposted April 26, 2009 8:45 PM PDT
  • musicfan2009
    Sandra, if you won't let me post on BSB yahoo pages, then the contracts aren't legal since your breaking online companies policy, I did legally leave them and stop deleting what I post, you loser and psychotic loser and fraud, Sandra Mcnanny.
    report abuseposted April 26, 2009 8:44 PM PDT
comments 1-10 of 82  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

Post A Comment

sign in to post a comment.

sign in

RELATED ARTICLES

RELATED PHOTOS

RELATED VIDEOS

Updates

Manage My Updates
Manage My Updates
More Updates »

omg!

MORE ENTERTAINMENT

ALSO ON YAHOO!

Help us to improve! - Send Your Suggestions