Kate DeAraugo has bravely opened up about the devastating moment she hit rock bottom during her intense battle with meth addiction, describing it as one of the most challenging and painful periods of her entire life. The former Australian Idol winner, now 40 years old, made this deeply personal and emotional admission during a recent episode of the Dos and D podcast, where she recounted a particularly distressing incident that saw her missing multiple flights at an airport while consuming drugs in a public bathroom.
A Harrowing Flashback to Addiction's Depths
'I just had a flashback that I had totally forgotten about. I had sat in the disabled toilets and missed five flights, smoking meth,' DeAraugo began, her voice likely filled with raw emotion as she shared this painful memory. 'To put it into perspective about how out of control I was, I flew to Brisbane a few months ago and I hadn't been to the airport in ages. I came down to get my bags and I had this flashback I had totally forgotten about,' she added, highlighting how the trauma of addiction can resurface unexpectedly.
'In the toilets, smoking meth... How I didn't get arrested, I don't know how I did it. I was so unable to stop, I couldn't function. I didn't know how I was going to get out of this bathroom, I had to get back to Victoria somehow!' she continued, painting a vivid picture of her desperation and helplessness at that time. 'That's where my using took me... to places where I was just a shell of a human being.'
The Path to Recovery and Rehabilitation
Fortunately, Kate revealed that she was eventually able to seek help and begin her journey toward sobriety after checking into a specialised rehabilitation clinic. 'I did 10 rehabs in like 12 years. My boyfriend at the time had gone to jail so I thought going to rehab would be a really good idea. I needed more help and was recommended a place called Sober Living,' she admitted, underscoring the long and arduous process of overcoming addiction.
An Unlikely Source of Support
She then revealed the very surprising person who managed to help her through her darkest days – retired AFL star Gavin Crosisca. 'He was a safe person, I felt connected to him,' she said, emphasising the importance of empathy and understanding in recovery. In 2023, DeAraugo spoke out about receiving support from this unlikely source when she hit rock bottom, from the former Collingwood player.
DeAraugo – who won the hit reality TV show in 2005 – began her journey to recovery following an arrest in 2017 for possession of crystal meth, a large knife, and a tomahawk in Bendigo. She then underwent a long-term stint at the Sober Living Rehab treatment centre – run by 1990 premiership winner Crosisca – and is now celebrating years of hard-won sobriety.
Connecting Beyond Fame and Fortune
'I was there for a long time,' she told the Herald Sun of her friendship with Crosisca. 'So we had many chats over the time and we were able to relate on another level again. But it wasn't about the fame, it was about two people being able to understand the feelings that got us to this place we ended up in.'
Crosisca endured a lengthy two-decade battle with drug addiction and has admitted to snorting speed daily. Yet regardless of the fame that both DeAraugo and Crosisca had enjoyed, the singer says that the footy star's deep understanding of her struggles is the point at which they truly connected. 'That was the greatest support and comfort,' she said. 'It didn't matter how famous or important he was, it didn't matter how famous or important I was. He understood how I felt.'
'Despite all the noise and the fame, being able to relate to someone in the darkest times is the most important thing,' DeAraugo concluded, highlighting the universal need for compassion in recovery. DeAraugo has since given birth to a 'miracle' baby boy, while Crosisca has been sober for an impressive 15 years, serving as a beacon of hope for others.
If you, or someone you know would like to talk to someone confidentially about addiction, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit au.reachout.com. In an emergency, call 000.
