VIDEO: Debbie Gibson Reveals Past Struggles with Prescription Drugs, Calls Out Theatre Community

In an interview for Oprah's "Where Are They Now," Debbie Gibson recently revealed that during her years as a young performer, she didn't hew as close to squeaky clean as the image that she projected: "I remember being on the road at, like, 25, touring with theater and doing my own cocktail of Tylenol PM and Xanax," the actress confessed.

Gibson says she isn't the only one, however, and asserts that "half of Broadway is on prednisone." Gibson goes on to compare the use of prescription drugs within the theatre community to the practice within the professional athletic industry, claiming "It's as prevalent or more prevalent, maybe, than it is with athletes."

At age 16, Debbie Gibson became the youngest artist to write, produce and perform a number one hit, "Foolish Beat." She followed that hit with a sensational 16 million albums sold worldwide and completed three world tours that highlighted her huge hits that include "Electric Youth," "Lost in Your Eyes," "Shake Your Love" and "Only in My Dreams." Gibson then turned to theatre, starring in 17 musicals in 17 years, including the Broadway production of "LES MISERABLES." She broke box office records in the London West End production of "Grease" as Sandy, returning to the U.S. to perform in "Grease," this time as Rizzo, and as Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl." Other roles include Belle in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast, Gypsy Rose Lee in "Gypsy," the narrator in the national production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," and leading roles in the national tours of "Cinderella," "Chicago," and the Broadway revival of "Cabaret" with Neil Patrick Harris."

Watch the original interview clip below:

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