Liz Lee Opens Up on MTV Paychecks, Drug Spiral and Road to Lasting Sobriety
Sage Matthews here. Let’s unpack the highs and lows of MTV alum Liz Lee’s recovery odyssey. In a candid TikTok video posted July 15, Liz Lee revealed how she blew her reality TV salary on substances, lived in her car, and ultimately found a path to sobriety that spans more than a decade.
Lee first rose to fame as the teenage star of MTV’s My Life as Liz from 2010 to 2011. She now admits her sudden income became fuel for a drug habit that escalated after a painful breakup with a “quite famous” director-comedian in her early twenties, as she told viewers. “I didn’t know how to talk about it,” Lee said, explaining her turn to drugs as a coping mechanism. Multiple TikTok segments corroborate this timeline, confirming she spent every paycheck on illicit substances.
Her addiction peaked when she ended up homeless, sleeping in her vehicle before checking into rehab. Lee shared that nine years of sobriety followed, helped by intensive outpatient treatment and sober living accommodations. She credits therapy modalities such as EMDR, CBT, DBT and even transcranial magnetic stimulation for rewiring her brain patterns, as she described in a subsequent TikTok update.
Despite nearly a decade clean, Lee experienced a relapse on ketamine during her birthday celebration at a local wine bar. She openly reflected on the moment she convinced herself her disease was cured and could be managed. “I thought maybe, after nine years, I’m not an addict anymore,” she confessed, acknowledging that rationalization led her back into K-holes and social isolation. Friends and family, alarmed by her behavior, urged her back into treatment.
This second round of care spanned an intensive outpatient program paired with a structured sober living environment. Lee now describes this relapse as a necessary wake-up call that reminded her recovery is an ongoing process. “I’m stuck with this disease,” she said, “and I have to act accordingly.”
Her story echoes recent accounts from other celebrities navigating sobriety. Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean, who relapsed in 2021, told People Magazine he rededicated himself to recovery and set firm boundaries to protect his progress. American Pie star Eddie Kaye Thomas also celebrated his one-year sober milestone in 2018, sharing an Instagram post that urged fans not to be ashamed of seeking help.
Lee’s openness reflects a broader shift in how public figures discuss addiction. By detailing her spending habits, her treatment methods and her relapse, she offers a transparent view into the challenges of long-term recovery. Viewers on TikTok praised her honesty, and mental health advocates highlight her account as a teaching moment for those struggling far from the TV spotlight.
With nine months sober after her most recent treatment, Lee continues therapy and group support. She operates a retail store whose paychecks she now channels into a healthy lifestyle. Her final piece of advice? Accept that sobriety is a daily commitment, not a destination.
And there you have it. Make of that what you will.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online, TikTok, People Magazine
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
