Note: This post has been moved from Latest Picks due to length of extended updates.
Demi Lovato ‘in Los Angeles hospital for suspected overdose’ (bbc.co.uk).
After LAPD reportedly responded to a medical emergency in the Hollywood Hills and finding Demi unconscious at home.
TMZ, which broke the story, reports she was treated at the scene with Naloxone, an anti-overdose medication, after possibly taking heroin.
Having struggled with alcohol and substance abuse as well as bipolar disorder and bulimia for years, sadly her 6-year sobriety seemingly having taken a knock of late and revealed in song (bbc.co.uk) but is reportedly in a stable condition.
Celebrities and fellow musicians have shared their support on social media and fans have tweeted the hashtag #PrayforDemi.
Updated 25th July 2018
Demi Lovato’s family issue statement after being rushed to hospital for suspected ‘overdose’ (nme.com).
A spokesman for Lovato has since issued the following statement: “Demi is awake and with her family who want to express thanks to everyone for the love, prayers and support.”
But that “Some of the information being reported is incorrect and they respectfully ask for privacy”.
Dark warning signs Demi Lovato was back on drugs—slurring and forgetting her words during Sober performance (mirror.co.uk).
The 25-year-old singer, who has long documented battle with sobriety, was last seen performing at the California Mid State Fair where she struggled to remember the lyrics to the track that admits her relapse.
But some may see less sensationalist “dark warning signs”, lyric repressed emotional toil and not so much “slurring” up until she admits with endearing laughter and smiles “Fuck, I forgot the words”, much less dramatically walking off with an embarrassed yet carefree shrug of shoulders, reminding of the strength of her conviction that “one thing I’ll never stop doing is being honest” and “that’s the best I can do” (theguardian.com).
And although some friends tell the warning signs had grown more alarming as the days had passed and that she had had a falling out with her sober coach, accusing him of betraying her, “other friends say they didn’t see this coming”, with “one friend saying he was at her home less than two weeks ago and she seemed great” (tmz.com).
But it seems a party led to the event:
DEMI LOVATO OD’D AFTER ALL-NIGHT PARTY (tmz.com).
With “sources” TMZ there had been a party but providing no information about the drug or drugs on which she had overdosed. The party perhaps carrying on from after celebrating the birthday of one of her backup dancers at the Saddle Ranch restaurant/bar.
As to what she had taken a source—again presumably not being a wheelie bin, plant pot or man in the wardrobe on the take for giving details—close to the singer said to TMZ it was not heroin but Narcan used for opioid overdoses was used to bring her back when found unconscious—Demi had struggled with cocaine and Oxycontin addictions, the latter being a prescription opioid analgesic— perhaps we will never know for sure:
DEMI LOVATO REFUSED TO DIVULGE OD DRUG … No criminal investigation (tmz.com).
Demi Lovato refused to tell paramedics what drug caused her to overdose, and law enforcement sources say no drugs were seized at her home.
Updated 26th July 2018
But it does seem some friends indeed were aware, were prepared and indeed had administered the Narcan (Naloxone) shot:
Wilmer Valderrama spotted visiting ex-girlfriend Demi Lovato in hospital one day after drug overdose (dailymail.co.uk).
“One of her friends had Narcan on hand in case something like this happened. Her friends knew this was coming because she’s been using so much again,“ the insider revealed.
Actor Valderrama who was her significant other up until 2016 “completely devastated” after hearing about her heroin overdose.
And showing some attempted to go further than just being aware, albeit thankfully having Narcan available as precautions for a worse case scenario:
DEMI LOVATO REJECTED HELP FROM HER TEAM WEEKS AGO (tmz.com).
Sources close to Demi tell us members of her team noticed she was in a bad place a few weeks ago, and even confronted her about it. We’re told they offered assistance to get her back to sobriety. The plan was to urge her into a rehab program.
But the intervention was not successful and Demi continued to party and it emerges that the reason for departure of longtime manager Phil McIntyre a couple of months ago may be because he had a hand in those intervention efforts.
But it seems some of those at the party are are keeping a low profile:
Demi Lovato’s family ‘making plans’ to get her ‘straight into rehab’ following apparent drug overdose (etonline.com).
“This is a very serious matter and it seems like most of the people who witnessed her drug use and/or participated are now nowhere to be seen,” the source says. “She was dating someone who her family didn't approve of and they wanted her to stay far away from him, but she believes she can make her own decisions about who she hangs out with and who she dates.”
Updated 2nd August 2018
DEMI LOVATO LEAVING HOSPITAL THIS WEEK… Now it’s rehab, or else (tmz.com).
The decision is ultimately Demi’s, and we’re told the people closest to her, along with some of the people who work for her, are going to draw a line in the sand—either go to a facility for help, or lose our number.
Although its doubtful they quite put it as tactlessly as that. Lets hope Demi does what’s best for herself.
Updated 3rd August 2018
DEMI LOVATO ASSISTANT SCREAMED, ‘SHE’S DEAD!!!’… bodyguard may have saved her life (tmz.com).
We’re told the bodyguard rushed to Demi’s side and it appeared she was not breathing. Our sources say there was blood on her pillow … an ominous sign, because it’s evidence of hemorrhaging. It appears there was also vomit and her airways may have been clogged.
Updated 4th August 2018
DEMI LOVATO AGREES TO REHAB (tmz.com).
Thankfully.
Sources with direct knowledge tell us, Demi’s family has squarely raised the issue of rehab with her ... something they delayed for days because of the many complications resulting from the OD.
With Demi still very sick and family not wishing to trigger conflict. So seemingly Demi will go straight from the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to an undisclosed live-in rehab facility when well enough.
Updated 6th August 2018
Singer Demi Lovato speaks out after suspected overdose (bbc.co.uk).
In an Instagram post, Lovato, 25, said: “I have always been transparent about my journey with addiction”.
“This illness is not something that… fades with time. It is something I must continue to overcome,” she said.
And thanking fans “for all your love and support”, fans having used the hashtag #HowDemiHasHelpedMe to share the positive impact she has on them on Twitter (bbc.co.uk, Jul. 2018).
With management team keen to keep those “toxic friends” who likely presently keeping a low profile away for good:
Demi Lovato’s team focus on separating the singer from her ‘toxic friends’ once she leaves rehab… as star breaks her silence after overdose (dailymail.co.uk).
Sources close to Demi have told the site that Demi’s team held a meeting last week to discuss “separating her from toxic people in her life once she gets out of rehab”.
Seemingly including a distant relative, drug users and“yes” friends without the singers best interests at heart and presumably other assorted hangers on.
Next page: Demi out of hospital and in rehab, overdose likely triggered by Oxycodone laced with fentanyl, questions as to whether she fallen for her bad boy dealer, and Demi doing well but staying in rehab until the end of the year.