Paris Hilton tells Congress she was ‘force-fed medications’ during child welfare hearing

The American socialite has detailed the horrifying abuse she endured as a teenager, while calling for change to child welfare programs.

Paris Hilton has revealed she was “force-fed medications and sexually abused by staff” as a teenager, while calling for change to youth residential facilities.

The American socialite made the harrowing admission as she testified before the US Congress in Washington DC to advocate for better protections for children who are institutionalised.

“When I was 16 years old, I was ripped from my bed in the middle of night and transported across state lines to the first of four residential facilities,” Hilton told the congressional committee.

“For two years, I was force-fed medications and sexually abused by the staff. I was violently restrained … stripped naked, thrown in solitary confinement.”

Actress and child welfare advocate Paris Hilton testified at the House Committee on Ways and Means hearing on strengthening child welfare. Picture: AFP

Hilton has previously shared how she was subjected to “a parent-approved kidnapping” at four different youth facilities as her parents searched for solutions to her rebellious behaviour and “fell for the misleading marketing of the troubled teen industry”.

The reality TV star said her experience was “isolating and traumatic” and that she never let her parents know at the time because phone calls were monitored.

“It’s really difficult to tell anyone in the outside world. A lot of these kids are not believed because these places tell the parents they’re being lied to and manipulated because they want to go home,” Hilton said.

“My parents were completely deceived, lied to and manipulated by this for-profit industry about the inhumane treatment I was experiencing.

Paris Hilton testified before Congress while advocating to modernise child welfare programs. Picture: AFP

“So, can you only imagine the experience for youth who were placed by the state and don’t have people regularly checking in on them?.”

The 43-year-old, who has been an outspoken advocate, is now urging politicians to reauthorise an act that provides funding for child welfare issues and to pass the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act.

Hilton also labelled the “tough love” teen course-correction business as a multi-billion dollar industry that includes therapeutic boarding schools, military-style boot camps, juvenile justice facilities and behaviour-modification programs.

“This $23 billion-a-year industry ($A34.5bn) sees this population as dollar signs and operates without meaningful oversight,” Hilton said.

“What is more important? Protecting business profits or protecting foster youth lives?.”

Since first opening up about her own abuse, Hilton has met with politicians in Utah and D.C, including senators and White House staff. Picture: AFP

Hilton, who welcomed her son Phoenix with husband Carter Reum last January, said she is “here to be a voice for the children whose voices can’t be heard.”

She has long advocated in state capitals and Capitol Hill on behalf of children safety issues.

Hilton previously addressed abuse allegations in her 2020 documentary, This Is Paris, detailing disturbing accusations toward a Colorado boarding school where she was verbally, emotionally and physically abused and left with insomnia, anxiety and trust issues.

Originally published as Paris Hilton tells Congress she was ‘force-fed medications’ during child welfare hearing