Jenelle Evans Says She “Was So Close to Dying” During the Height of Her Heroin Addiction

Sharing her truth. Jenelle Evans opened up in a new interview about her former addiction to heroin and revealed that she nearly lost her life because of it. Speaking to Us Weekly, the 25-year-old Teen Mom 2 star explained why she will never go back to that dark place again.

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

As Jenelle recounts in her new book, Read Between the Lines, she hit rock bottom in 2012 when she overdosed on heroin while staying at then-boyfriend Kieffer Delp’s mother’s house in New Jersey.

MORE: Nathan Griffith Goes in on Jenelle Evans Again, Suggests Her Fiance David Eason Is on Drugs

“I basically blacked out. And woke up not remembering anything,” the mom of Jace, 7, Kaiser, 3, and Ensley, 6 months, said. “I was appalled — I couldn’t believe that happened. I really was so close to dying.”

Despite her rocky relationship with mom Barbara “Babs” Evans, Jenelle called on her for help at the time. “I quit cold turkey. I just went to my mom’s house and rode it out,” the North Carolina native — who is now engaged to David Eason — said. “I started to go through withdrawals for the first time. I didn’t know it would be like the worst flu I’ve ever had for seven days.”

MORE: Jenelle Evans Says That Her Ongoing Custody Battle Has Made Her Lose “All Respect” for Her Mom Barbara

Going through withdrawals without medical supervision can sometimes be fatal, but Jenelle said she “luckily did it safely,” while explaining the grueling process. “First, you have insomnia, then you can’t eat, then you have panic attacks, then hot and cold sweats for a week, uncontrollable shaking and your joints hurt,” she recalled. “You can die from trying to withdraw on your own.”

Deal of the Day

Get This Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner for 90% Off! View Deal

Now sober for several years, Jenelle has decided to speak out about her past issues with substance abuse because she’s hoping to inspire others to stay away from drugs. “I want to bring attention to how severe the heroin epidemic is,” she said. “It’s horrible. It is like a disease and needs to be treated like it.”

Teen Mom 2 airs on MTV Mondays at 9 p.m. EST.

Love Teen Mom? Be sure to join our Teen Mom Facebook group to chat about all the latest updates and juicy gossip!

To see how Jenelle has changed throughout the years, click through the gallery below!