Actor Joshua Bassett is getting real about his past addiction to ketamine following a near-death experience he had in 2021. During a podcast interview, Bassett, who starred in the Disney show “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” said that he used the drug to help him “escape” his internal struggles.
While appearing on the “Zack Sang Show,” Bassett said that he used ketamine and other drugs to help him mask the pain he was feeling in 2021. “[I’d use] whatever was the most effective in that moment at sort of putting me at ease,” he said.
According to PEOPLE, Bassett also opened up about his struggles in his new book, “Rookie: My Public, Private, and Secret Life,” in which he wrote about using “six” baggies of ketamine every day.
In the podcast episode, the actor said that after he began using the drugs, his addiction to them only grew.
“It got to a point, and I think that’s the thing about a lot of drugs is that they can be fun and enjoyable for a little while, but … what happens is you have a good time and then now you’re at a deficit, a dopamine deficit,” he said, explaining that he used the drugs as “an escape” from the pain.
Joshua Bassett Was Able To Hide His Addiction To Ketamine Because Of His Acting Abilities
Bassett said on the podcast that he became quite skilled at hiding his addiction struggles, mainly because of his profession as a performer.
“I was pretty good at hiding it. You know?” he said. “I’m an actor so I think it’s my gift and curse is that I can pretend that I’m doing well when I’m not.”
The singer, now 25, said that addiction “thrives through isolation” before saying his proximity to fame and money only exacerbated things.
He went on to say how thankful he was to still be alive today, saying, “It’s truly a miracle it didn’t take my life.”
He added, “It’s a miracle my life hasn’t been taken quite a few times, to be honest … You know, it’s a miracle I’m here for sure.”
Writing A Book Was ‘Cathartic’ For Joshua Bassett
In a separate interview with PEOPLE, Bassett opened up about how writing a book helped him begin his healing journey.
“When you start to write those down and relive those, it’s very, very physically painful,” he said. “The body does keep the score and I think in doing that it’s very raw and difficult, but the artist paves the road for the audience to scroll down.”
For those who may be unfamiliar, Bassett spent much of 2021 and 2022 in the headlines, thanks to his Disney co-star, Olivia Rodrigo, and her Hot 100 No. 1 hit, “Driver’s License,” which is rumored to be about him.
“The hard work I have to do of sitting in those emotions over and over again and crafting the perfect words and trying to get it to really fit and having to relive that, that difficult work ideally makes it cathartic and easy for somebody to be able to read it,” he said.
Bassett Is ‘Honest’ In His Book, But Not Always ‘Transparent’
Continuing, Bassett, who won an Emmy for Outstanding Original Song, said he bares his soul in the book, talking about sexual abuse, mental health, and the pressure of fame.
And while he touches on serious topics, the actor said he decided to dial it back a bit in certain parts of the writing process.
“My mentor, there were a couple times where he’d be like, ‘You can be honest without being transparent at times.’ So there were a couple times where I dialed it in. It’s still pretty vulnerable, but there’s certain points where it’s like, ‘You know what, you don’t need to give the world everything, you know?’” he shared.
What Has Bassett Learned From His Addiction?
Elsewhere during the interview, Bassett said that he’s learned a lot about himself over the years. According to him, he displayed some behavior he isn’t proud of, and if he could go back and do it over again, he would.
“I wish I was more considerate in my tornado and my distress and even addiction,” he said. “[Addiction can be] very self-centered. There is an element to addiction that is, ‘I care more about how I feel at the expense of everyone else,’ and you end up hurting a lot of people, you end up choosing yourself in a way that is unhealthy over people. I just wish I’d be a little bit more considerate, a little bit more thoughtful and a little bit more forgiving of myself and others.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.