Surprise detail after Jackie O reveals secret battle with drug and alcohol addiction

A shocking detail has been revealed after the radio host broke down about her battle with addiction, confessing she was in a “really, really dark place”.

Jackie ‘O’ Henderson kept her addiciton battle secret from close pal and co-host Kyle Sandilands.

Henderson broke down on air on Thursday after revealing she secretly went to rehab for drug and alcohol addiction.

The 49-year-old heartbreakingly admitted that two years ago, she had been taking pain killers and sleeping pills and alcohol.

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson

Henderson admitted she was taking 10-12 Stilnox sleeping pills and 24 Panadeine Forte a day, combined with alcohol, in an effort to relieve stress.

Despite their close relationship on-air, Henderson admitted to having kept Sandilands in the dark about her personal battle.

She said she didn’t want to tell anyone until at least a year sobriety, having also kept her battle from her extended family and close friends.

Henderson said her struggles with addiction first began to develop in 2018 following her split with UK photographer Lee Henderson.

“I was in a really, really dark place,” she admitted.

“That’s what the addiction to your brain, it changes your way of thinking, it doesn’t want you to get help, it’s so powerful.”

She made the confession on Thursday.

In 2022, the radio host told her listeners she was suffering from long Covid and needed time to recover. In reality, she had checked` in to the famed Betty Ford Clinic in California, known for its Hollywood clientele, to begin her rehabilitation process.

The radio host confessed she was “scared to tell people” about her addiction, and went “back and forth” before revealing her story so publicly.

Jackie O. source: Instagram

According to the radio star, she was afraid “people will look at me differently” and first sought approval from her 13-year-old daughter before making her story public.

“I couldn’t be more proud of my daughter, the way she has been about it has been zero Judgement, just compassionate and support,” she said.

Following her brave admission, Ms Henderson apologised to her fans for keeping her health struggles a secret.

“I want to apologise to our listeners and everyone in my life,” she said. “I just needed to concentrate on that part first, that recovery.”

Originally published as Surprise detail after Jackie O reveals secret battle with drug and alcohol addiction