Former reality star on MTV’s popular reality show “Laguna Beach” and advocate Jason Wahler shares his struggles with addiction from an early age and how being a reality star on the show as a teen changed his life. Wahler discusses his journey through addiction, recovery, relapse, and then dedicating himself to helping others facing the same issues he did.
On this episode, Jason talks to Matt about:
- His dreams of being a baseball star and how addiction got in the way
- How MTV stardom turned from being cool into a nightmare
- How the depths of his addiction led to run-ins with police, psychosis, and a failed suicide attempt
- How his family became his motivation and how sobriety made him a better father
- His relapse and years of on-and-off use
- His work with the Red Songbird foundation and promoting increased access to treatment
- The importance of educating the public about addiction and removing the stigma
- And More
Jason works with Red Songbird Foundation to provide care for trauma, mental health and substance abuse to the less fortunate. Learn more, seek treatment, or donate at https://www.redsongbird.org
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, MusiCares operates a Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Program that recognizes those issues unique to music professionals at any stage of their career, offering eligible individuals financial assistance and resources for psychotherapy, coaching, and psychiatric expenses, inpatient and outpatient treatment, detox and sober living costs.
About Jason Wahler
Jason Wahler is a popular TV personality, Host, Actor, Advocate, and Philanthropist who has appeared on hit TV shows like MTV’S Laguna Beach, The Hills, Celebrity Rap Superstar and The Hills: New Beginnings. After years of publicly battling with addiction, he appeared on Dr. Drew’s Celebrity Rehab and began a new life in recovery. Jason has since dedicated his life to raising awareness on substance abuse, and mental health, with the hope of one day changing the public's negative perception.
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