Aussie star opens up about harrowing prescription drug battle and years-long addiction

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Dena Kaplan, an Australian actress and dancer, has publicly revealed her private struggle with prescription drug addiction.

The 36-year-old actress, famous for her role as Abigail Armstrong in the popular show Dance Academy, revealed she struggled for years to come off medication that she believes severely harmed her well-being.

On the Life Academy podcast, Dena shared that what started as a way to deal with the demands of touring quickly became a serious problem.

While touring the United States with Australian DJ Hayden James, Kaplan was given medication to help with sleep and anxiety.

Later, when she joined electronic group Rüfüs Du Sol on the road, her dependence only deepened.

After finishing my tour and returning to Australia, I realized I’d run out of medication. I thought I could handle it, but I quickly started experiencing withdrawal symptoms, as I remember.

The actress described experiencing intense withdrawal symptoms, including hallucinations and vomiting. These symptoms triggered panic attacks that left her feeling overwhelmed and unable to manage.

The doctors kept prescribing the medication for a long time, but she was eventually able to gradually stop taking it with help.

Kaplan stressed that she never misused the drugs.

‘It’s that addictive,’ she said, explaining that she only took one pill before bed each night.

She admitted she had a frightening dream about unknowingly becoming addicted to something, feeling helpless and completely unaware of the dangers of addiction.

I once believed addiction was simply about people deliberately seeking drugs, like heroin. Now I understand it’s not a choice at all – it’s something that happens to you. In my case, it started with a prescription. I became addicted, and then spent years trying to safely overcome it.

Her first experience inside a rehabilitation centre was ‘terrifying.’

When I got there, they showed me around the rehab facility. There were around thirty to forty other patients, both men and women. I was overwhelmed with fear and started crying uncontrollably. I was truly terrified.

However, one unlikely encounter with an Uber driver became a turning point in her recovery.

‘She took one look at me, and she was like, “Are you in withdrawals?”‘ Kaplan remembered.

I was really surprised when she told me she went to Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and she offered to bring me along to one.

That same night, Kaplan was driven to her first-ever Narcotics Anonymous meeting.

Everyone was sharing their experiences with addiction and getting better, and I was overwhelmed with emotion, just shaking and crying the whole time.

As well as battling addiction, Kaplan has been candid about her struggles with depression.

After trying different treatments, like ketamine therapy, she’s now prioritizing a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction and needs confidential support, please reach out to Lifeline at 13 11 14 or visit the Reach Out website. For immediate emergencies, dial 000.

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2025-09-22 03:09