I saw my best friend Jackie ‘O’ Henderson at the depth of her drug addiction – it was a life or death situation and will haunt me forever

I saw my best friend Jackie 'O' Henderson at the depth of her drug addiction - it was a life or death situation and will haunt me forever

As someone who has witnessed the struggles and triumphs of people battling addiction firsthand, I can only imagine the strength it takes to admit one’s flaws and seek help. Jackie ‘O’ Henderson‘s courage in sharing her story is truly inspiring. It’s a stark reminder that even those who appear to have it all together may be fighting their own personal demons.


Jackie ‘O’ Henderson’s closest confidante and representative, Gemma O’Neill, choked up during a discussion on Thursday, expressing deep sorrow over witnessing her dear friend battle drug dependency.

49-year-old Jackie tearfully disclosed that she had discreetly sought treatment at the Betty Ford Clinic back in November 2022, as she shared a passage from her latest book during her conversation with her co-host on their KIIS FM radio program.

Not long afterward, Gemma emotionally shared with Kyle that she had assisted Jackie, who is 49 years old, in making a covert trip to California and admitted her to a highly respected rehabilitation center in secrecy.

Following Jackie’s startling confession about her daily consumption of up to 12 Stilnox sleeping pills and 24 Panadeine Forte tablets, Gemma felt the urgency to take immediate action.

She noted that Jackie seemed to be transforming into a person who wasn’t the same as before, and she wasn’t sure what to do about it, she admitted.

If you share your situation with someone, they may be able to assist you. One day, Jackie mustered the bravery to confide in me. She phoned me and shared, “Gemma, I’ve been making a very unwise decision.

Jackie shared with me that she had been consuming pills. In response, I expressed, “I’m heading to your place immediately; just stay put.” Upon arrival, we had a deeply distressing discussion about the circumstances at hand. She was clearly in a disarrayed state.

It was clear to me that her recovery would only occur if some significant event took place. The urgency of the situation was evident right away, and I understood immediate action was required.

I saw my best friend Jackie 'O' Henderson at the depth of her drug addiction - it was a life or death situation and will haunt me forever

Without delay, I arranged for her admission at Betty Ford Center. It was crucial to ensure she received the assistance she deserved, and I was certain this was the best course of action. Thankfully, the program turned out to be highly effective in her recovery.

Jackie leaped in and expressed gratitude towards Gemma for standing by her side unwaveringly through her toughest times, and for securing the assistance she required.

Oh, man! I’m over the moon that I stumbled upon you. My heart is filled with eternal gratitude for the incredible things you’ve done for me.

During Jackie’s journey to the United States for treatment in rehab, I, being an ardent fan, understood that Kyle shared with his audience that Jackie was taking some time off to prioritize her well-being, having been affected by Covid-19.

Jackie mentioned that personnel from Betty Ford Clinic, well-known among Hollywood celebrities, advised her against altering ‘any part’ of her consumption routine prior to her arrival, as it might be ‘risky’. Consequently, she was still consuming the pills on the day she departed for the United States.

She said she went ‘back and forth’ deciding whether to share the news publicly before detailing the extent of her addiction in her upcoming memoir The Whole Truth, slated for release on October 29.

Before the book was published, Jackie wept as she discussed for the first time the agonizing depth of her struggle with addiction.

I saw my best friend Jackie 'O' Henderson at the depth of her drug addiction - it was a life or death situation and will haunt me forever
I saw my best friend Jackie 'O' Henderson at the depth of her drug addiction - it was a life or death situation and will haunt me forever

She confided that she found it difficult to share her feelings openly and worry about others’ perceptions changing, revealing a period of struggle and darkness. This is what she conveyed to her audience.

Jackie confessed that she withheld the truth when she declared her 2022 absence from work due to having Covid, as it was actually a false statement.

She said her struggles first began more than 15 years ago when she was prescribed a strong opioid painkiller for endometriosis – a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, causing severe pain.

I saw my best friend Jackie 'O' Henderson at the depth of her drug addiction - it was a life or death situation and will haunt me forever

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2024-10-25 03:51

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