Drew Barrymore says she 'loves' that she became a 'walking cautionary tale' ... trends now
Drew Barrymore said she is not ashamed to have become a 'cautionary tale' to parents after coming forward with her struggles with substance abuse at age 13.
While reflecting on her time at a family treatment center as a young teenager, the 49-year-old talk show host said she is proud to have shared her story back in 1989.
As she looked back at one of her past covers for People, in which she candidly spoke about starting to drink at nine and using cocaine at 12, the mother-of-two said the interview was 'very empowering.'
'When I look at it now, I don't see sadness or tragedy. I love that I was a walking cautionary tale,' the Charlie's Angels star said.
Drew Barrymore said she is not ashamed to have become a 'cautionary tale' to parents after coming forward, at age 13, with her struggles with substance use; seen last month
The actress explained that her story influenced parenting and made people ask how they can protect their child and the importance of boundaries.
'I actually feel like this gives me such a beautiful little merit badge, like a scout's honor to get into that conversation and know how to navigate that as a parent myself,' Barrymore reflected.
Now, the Golden Globe nominee, who is the mother of two daughters Olive, 11, and Frankie, 10, declared that looking back is an 'extremely positive' experience because she doesn't feel 'lost anymore.'
She also admitted getting divorced from her third husband, Will Kopelman was way more challenging.
'This makes me laugh because if you thought this was a low point, no,' she explained. 'Divorce with two kids, that was a much more difficult moment for me because all of a sudden it wasn't about [me], it was about [my kids].'
The California native continued: 'Whatever you think will be your lowest point or your hardest moment, it might not be,' she told readers. 'There might be another one down the road and it's okay. You will get through it—you might not do it on your own.'
Barrymore also pointed out that nobody in the world has never not gone 'through a low point or a bad thing or had to learn a hard lesson or was embarrassed.'
'We all go through so much tender, difficult stuff in life, and so if we're able to be transparent about that—I know I feel so much better if someone shares their story, it makes me feel so much less alone,' she stated.
