Elizabeth Vargas is focusing on her health. The 20/20 anchor, 51, checked herself into a rehabilitation center this past weekend to seek treatment for a dependency on alcohol.
"While on vacation this weekend, I decided to return to a recovery center," Vargas said in a statement to Us Weekly. "As so many other recovering alcoholics know, overcoming the disease can be a long and incredibly difficult process."
The award-winning journalist previously spent time in rehab last fall. In November 2013, she released a statement explaining that she realized she "was becoming increasingly dependent on alcohol" and thanked her family and her colleagues at ABC News for their support while she worked to battle the disease.
She returned to television in January 2014, and was open about her struggles, telling her colleagues at Good Morning America upon her return, "I am an alcoholic" and speaking about her husband Marc Cohn's request for her to seek help.
Vargas married "Walking in Memphis" singer-songwriter Cohn, 55, in July 2002. They later welcomed son Zachary, 11, and son Samuel, 8.
"I feel I have let myself, my co-workers and most importantly my family down, and for that I am ashamed and sorry," Vargas said in her weekend statement. "I am committed to battling and addressing this debilitating disease and want to thank everyone who has offered their unwavering support during this trying time."
Though Cohn has yet to comment on his wife's troubles, on Sunday, Aug. 17, he tweeted a photo of himself with a pair of headphones on, writing, "Sundays are for relaxing and cherishing the little things."
Vargas may return to her post at 20/20 in the future as ABC News added in a statement to Us Weekly, "Nothing is more important than Elizabeth’s health and well-being and we stand squarely behind her. Our thoughts are with Elizabeth and her family and we look forward to having her back at ABC News when she feels ready to return."
