Hayden Panettiere
Hayden Panettiere's death has renewed focus on her struggles with mental health and substance abuse, and the pressures of Hollywood on child stars
Hayden Panettiere was 16 when drugs first arrived in her life in Hollywood. She has said someone on her team handed her a pill to help amp up her energy ahead of a red carpet event for the hit series Heroes.
Pressure of Hollywood
The star's sudden death at the age of 36 has placed a renewed focus on her struggles with mental health and substance abuse, and re-ignited a discussion about the pressures of Hollywood on child stars. According to Lucas Trautman, the medical director of Oxford Treatment Center, child actors are exposed to many adult aspects of life at a developmental time, which can put them at risk for mental health and substance abuse issues.
Addiction experts, including Trautman, told the BBC that child actors often have adult access to drugs and alcohol without adult protection. They are not equipped at a young age to say no to it, to manage it, or to correctly stay away from it altogether. Other child stars, including Drew Barrymore and Demi Lovato, have talked about being exposed to drugs at an early age.
Child Stars and Addiction
The following child stars have struggled with addiction:
| Star | Age of First Exposure | Substance |
|---|---|---|
| Hayden Panettiere | 16 | Pill to amp up energy |
| Drew Barrymore | 12 | Rehab for addiction |
| Demi Lovato | 13 | Prescribed opiates |
| Michelle Trachtenberg | unknown | Struggled with drugs and alcohol |
| Daveigh Chase | unknown | Struggled with drugs and alcohol |
Panettiere's death comes after she published a memoir where she discussed at length her issues with addiction, her postpartum depression, and the loss of her 28-year-old brother. Her decision to publicly share her struggles is worthy of respect, said William Moyers, the vice-president of public affairs for Hazelden Betty Ford.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Substance abuse also puts people at risk for a host of medical conditions, including heart disease and liver and other organ damage. Panettiere's brother, Jansen, died aged 28 from a heart condition, and Panettiere revealed in her book that her brother was using heroin and cocaine leading up to his death. After he died, the actress told People Magazine in 2024 she was committed to staying sober, telling the outlet her addiction was in the rear view mirror.
The US Drug Enforcement Agency is joining an investigation into her death, according to US media reports. The coroner's office in Greenville, South Carolina said crews treated a woman in cardiac arrest and her autopsy showed no signs of trauma. No cause of death has been released, though additional tests are yet to be completed. Audio from police dispatchers and crews who responded to the address said they were responding to a cardiac arrest and detailed their efforts to resuscitate the woman after a possible overdose.
