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Demi Lovato Said She Got Sober Because of Her Younger Sister Madison

Demi Lovato and her half-sister, Madison De La Garza on July 21, 2011
Demi Lovato poses with her younger half sister Madison De La Garza, who she credits for helping her get sober.

The holidays are a great time to give thanks for family, and this year, Demi Lovato wants to give her family credit for essentially saving her life and career. The former Disney star went into rehab in 2010 due to her drug and alcohol addiction, eating disorder, and mental issues involving cutting. 

Lovato, 21, recalls the exact moment she decided to get clean in a new interview with Access Hollywood

Related: PHOTOS: Demi Lovato through the years

“The last time that I had an intervention, it was my management, my entire team, manager, lawyers, everyone, and my parents coming into a room saying if you don’t get sober – my mom specifically said, ‘You know, we’re going to move back to Texas and you’re not going to be able to be around your little sister,’” the "Neon Lights" singer recalled.

Lovato's half sister, Madison De La Garza, 11, starred in Desperate Housewives for six years as Eva Longoria's daughter Juanita Solis. Demi and Madison's mother, Dianna Hart, is also in recovery for her own eating disorder and depression. But she did her best to help one daughter by protecting another. 

Related: PHOTOS: Demi Lovato and other stars who have battled mental health issues

“I had to set an example for Madison… I had to protect her and [Demi] knew that,” the star’s mom told Access Hollywood. “So when I said, ‘I’m moving back to Texas,’ she knew that I finally meant it that time, and that’s when we all sat down with her and said, ‘This is it, you have to make a change or we’re all going our separate ways because if you don’t want this career, we’re not going to want it for you.'"

Lovato left rehab in 2011 and has since devoted her life to encouraging her fans. She's been very forthcoming with her many struggles and admitted to smuggling cocaine onto airplanes, drinking vodka out of Sprite bottles at nine in the morning, and cutting herself in the same interview.

Related: PHOTOS: Disney stars through the years

 

"There should be no taboo about it," Lovato said of her cutting. "I self harmed, and she [her mother] worried all the time. Sometimes when you're feeling so numb just by being depressed, you just want to feel."

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