Demi Lovato had ‘THREE strokes and a heart attack’ as a result of near-fatal overdose in 2018

Demi Lovato has revealed the devastating effects of her 2018 drug overdose – believed to be heroin – which she claims nearly left her for dead. 

The 28-year-old pop star has gone into grave detail about the after effects in a teaser for her upcoming YouTube documentary series Dancing With The Devil, which premieres March 23. 

‘I had three strokes. I had a heart attack. My doctors said that I had five to 10 more minutes,’ said Lovato stoically during a confessional for the four-part series.

Appearing to confirm that it was heroin that Lovato overdosed on, her friend says in the clip: ‘She should be dead. Are we talking about heroin? Are we doing that?’

Intense: ‘I had three strokes. I had a heart attack. My doctors said that I had five to 10 more minutes,’ said Lovato stoically during a confessional for the four-part series

At one point, an image of Demi’s tattooed hand hooked up to an IV and covered in medical tape, as well as with a hospital band fastened around her wrist, appeared on screen.

The hospital band featured Lovato’s August 20, 1992 birthdate, as well as the date she was admitted to the hospital: ‘7/24/2018’ 

As she continued to reflect on the life changing incident and the effect it has continued to have on herself, her friends, and family, Demi compared her resiliency to that of a cat with nine lives.  

‘I’ve had a lot of lives, like my cat. You know, I’m on my ninth life,’ she stressed. ‘I’m ready to get back to doing what I love, which is making music.’ 

Overdose: On July 24, just two days before she was set to take the stage in New Jersey, Demi was transported to a Los Angeles area hospital after suffering from an opioid overdose 

Resilient: As she continued to reflect on the life changing incident and the effect it has continued to have on herself, her friends, and family, Demi compared her resiliency to that of a cat with nine lives

While discussing the upcoming YouTube Originals series during a Television Critics Association panel on Wednesday, Demi elaborated on the lingering effects her overdose has had on her mental and physical health.

‘I was left with brain damage, and I still deal with the effects of that today. I don’t drive a car because I have blind spots in my vision,’ admitted the Sonny With A Chance actress.

She also noted that ‘for a long time had a really hard time reading,’ so it was ‘really big deal when I was able to read out of a book, like, two months later because my vision was so blurry.’ 

Highs and lows: The nearly three-minute teaser trailer for Dancing With The Devil features scenes from Lovato’s extraordinary life, including backstage footage, stage performances, and even her lowest points

‘I’ve dealt with the repercussions, and they’re there to remind me what could happen if I get into a dark place again. I’m grateful for these reminders,’ concluded the star.

The nearly three-minute teaser trailer for Dancing With The Devil features scenes from Lovato’s extraordinary life, including backstage footage, stage performances, as well as intimate interviews with her closest confidants.

‘I crossed a line that I had never crossed,’ said Lovato of her overdose, with the trailer cutting to a confessional with her best friend Matthew Scott Montgomery.

Crossing a line: ‘I crossed a line that I had never crossed,’ said Lovato of her overdose, with the trailer cutting to a confessional with her best friend Matthew Scott Montgomery

Touchy subject: ‘Are we talking about heroin? Are we doing this?’ he asked the cameramen and producers frantically

‘Are we talking about heroin? Are we doing this?’ he asked the cameramen and producers frantically.

Demi’s mother Dianna De La Garza, stepfather Eddie, older sister Dallas, 33, and younger half-sister Madison also make cameos in the four-part docuseries.

The trailer commences with images of Demi from her days of childhood stardom, her successful career with the Disney Channel, as well as the tumultuous months leading up to the overdose that nearly cost her her life.

Fans of Lovato will also get a glimpse into Lovato’s ill-fated July 2020 engagement to soap star Max Ehrich, 29, and, presumably, the messy split that played out online just two months later.

Perspective: Elton John and Christina Aguilera, who have formed a friendship with Demi over the years, will make appearances during Dancing With The Devil, to provide their perspective on Demi’s growth and unrelenting drive to overcome her demons

‘Im engaged!’ exclaimed Demi as she flashed her engagement ring at the camera, while filming one of her many candid confessionals for the series, which will premiere with two full-length episodes on March 23 on the pop star’s YouTube channel.

Elton John and Christina Aguilera, who have formed a friendship with Demi over the years, will make appearances during Dancing With The Devil, to provide their perspective on Demi’s growth and unrelenting drive to overcome her demons.

‘It’s been two years since I came face-to-face with the darkest point in my life, and now I’m ready to share my story with the world,’ said Lovato in a press release regarding Dancing With The Devil in January, when it was announced.

A star is born: The trailer commences with images of Demi from her days of childhood stardom, her successful career with the Disney Channel, and the months leading up to the overdose that nearly cost her her life

Engagement: Fans of Lovato will also get a glimpse into Lovato’s ill-fated July 2020 engagement to soap star Max Ehrich, 29, and, presumably, the undeniably messy split that played out online just two months later

‘For the first time, you’ll be able to see my chronicle of struggle and ongoing healing from my point of view. 

‘I’m grateful that I was able to take this journey to face my past head-on and finally share it with the world,’ concluded Demi.

The final two episodes of Dancing With The Devil will be ‘released weekly on each of the next two Tuesdays,’ according to Rolling Stone.

Opening up: Demi Lovato will speak openly about her near-fatal overdose and ongoing struggle with addiction in her upcoming documentary series Dancing With The Devil

Her story: ‘It’s been two years since I came face-to-face with the darkest point in my life, and now I’m ready to share my story with the world,’ said Lovato in a press released on Wednesday; Demi pictured in 2018 

Director Michael D. Ratner explained that filming for Dancing With The Devil commenced in 2018 during Lovato’s Tell Me You Love Me World Tour, which came to an abrupt end in July of that year.

On July 24, just two days before she was set to take the stage in New Jersey, Demi was transported to a Los Angeles area hospital after suffering from an opioid overdose.

The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed to Rolling Stone that it had ‘responded to a medical emergency call at 11:22 a.m.’ at Lovato’s Hollywood Hills home.

Coming soon! The candid four-part series will premiere for free on the 28-year-old pop star’s YouTube channel with two full-length episodes on March 23; Demi pictured with the series’ director Michael D. Ratner

A source revealed to TMZ that when paramedics arrived to Demi’s residence they headed inside where they found the star unconscious. 

Paramedics on the scene administered naloxone, which is a medication designed to treat narcotic overdose, before rushing Lovato to a nearby by hospital, as per NBC. 

TMZ also reported at the time that the Sonny With A Chance actress had been ‘celebrating a friend’s birthday in West Hollywood’ the night prior to her near-fatal overdose. 

Representatives for Lovato issued a statement to Variety on July 25 confirming that Demi had not succumbed to her overdose and that she was surrounded by her closest loved ones, presumably in hospital.

Longtime in the making: Ratner explained that filming for Dancing With The Devil commenced in 2018 during Lovato’s Tell Me You Love Me World Tour, which came to an abrupt end in July of that year; Demi pictured in March of 2018

‘Demi is awake and with her family who want to express thanks to everyone for the love, prayers and support,’ it began.

The statement also suggested that ‘some of the information being reported [was] incorrect,’ which was a direct reference to claims suggesting that Demi had overdosed on heroin.

‘They respectfully ask for privacy and not speculation as her health and recovery is the most important thing right now.’

Demi was released from the hospital in August and went on to spend three months in a rehab facility.

Overdose: On July 24, just two days before she was set to take the stage in New Jersey, Demi was transported to a Los Angeles area hospital after suffering from an opioid overdose; Demi pictured in 2020

A month prior to her overdose, the Disney Channel alum released her emotional ballad Sober, which featured lyrics suggesting she had relapsed. 

In March of that year, Demi had celebrated six years of sobriety, following years of admitted alcohol and cocaine abuse.  

Demi’s four-part docuseries Dancing With The Devil promises ‘an honest look back at some of the most trying times in Lovato’s life as she unearths her prior traumas and discovers the importance of her physical, emotional, and mental health.’

In his own statement, Ratner praised Lovato’s ‘willingness to explore the darkest elements of her life’ and that her raw honestly will ‘leave the audience with a complete understanding of everything she’s been through and ultimately where she is going.’

Sober: A month prior to her overdose, the Disney Channel alum released her emotional ballad Sober, which featured lyrics suggesting she had relapsed

‘Demi stands for empowerment, and this documentary is going to answer the many questions that have been out there — providing a real window into the life of one of the biggest stars in the world, who is simply a human being,’ he concluded.

Lovato proudly announced Dancing With The Devil on her official Instagram page on Tuesday, writing: ‘There has been so much that I’ve wanted to say, but knew I had to say it right.’

She included a still image of herself with a stoic expression that was taken during the confessional portion of the documentary series.  

Demi continued: ‘Thank you to my family, friends, and fans for staying by my side over the years as I learn and grow. I’m so excited to finally share this story with you that I’ve held on to for the last 2 years. #DemiDWTD coming soon!’

Some insight: Though the docuseries is expected to give fans a clear understanding of Demi’s ongoing struggle with addiction and mental health, the star did offer some insight during an interview with Ellen DeGeneres last year; Demi pictured in March 2020

The first time: She told the 62-year-old talk show host that she ‘first got sober when [she] was 19, which was an age that [she] wasn’t supposed to be drinking at all’; Demi and Ellen pictured in March 2020

Though the docuseries is expected to give fans a clear understanding of Demi’s ongoing struggle with addiction and mental health, the star did offer some insight during an interview with Ellen DeGeneres last year.

She told the 62-year-old talk show host that she ‘first got sober when [she] was 19, which was an age that [she] wasn’t supposed to be drinking at all.’

‘I got the help I needed at the time and I took a ‘one size fits all’ approach and that was just sobriety,’ explained Lovato, adding that her ongoing eating disorder made the experience even more complex.

‘It led me to being really, really unhappy…I asked for help, but didn’t get the help that I needed.’

Demi admitted that although she was ‘six years sober’ in March of 2018, she ‘was more miserable than when [she] was drinking.’

Miserable: Demi admitted that although she was ‘six years sober’ in March of 2018, she ‘was more miserable than when [she] was drinking’; Demi pictured in 2020