Doja Cat Opens Up About Past Cocaine Use, Alcohol Problems and Mental Health

Doja Cat says she struggled with cocaine approximately eight years ago and has experienced problems involving alcohol, negative thoughts and mental health. Her disclosure highlights why substance use and emotional distress should be addressed together—without assuming a diagnosis or speculating about someone’s treatment.

Doja Cat has opened up about a difficult period involving past cocaine use, problems with alcohol, self-hate and mental health challenges, offering a personal account of how substance use and emotional distress can become intertwined.

In a series of TikTok videos posted on August 31, 2026, the Grammy-winning singer and rapper—whose legal name is Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini—said she had “struggled with cocaine” approximately eight years earlier. She emphasized that she considers herself well past that period.

Doja Cat also said that although she has experienced problems involving alcohol, she does not identify herself as an alcoholic. She described alcohol as something that could intensify negative thoughts and discussed how hostile online interactions sometimes reinforced thoughts she was already experiencing.

According to reporting from Entertainment Weekly and Billboard, Doja Cat used the videos to reflect on her past behavior, identity struggles and ongoing mental health work. She encouraged people dealing with similar issues to seek help and take care of themselves.

Her statements should be understood precisely. Doja Cat did not announce that she is currently using cocaine. She did not say she had entered rehab, identify herself as sober or publicly disclose a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder or cocaine use disorder.

Nothing in her videos gives the public enough information to make those conclusions. What she described was a past struggle involving cocaine, problems related to alcohol and an ongoing effort to better understand her mental health.

That distinction allows for a meaningful discussion about cocaine use and its risks without turning a celebrity’s disclosure into an unsupported diagnosis.

What Did Doja Cat Say About Cocaine and Alcohol?

Doja Cat discussed several experiences that she viewed as connected:

• She struggled with cocaine approximately eight years ago.
• She considers that period to be behind her.
• She has experienced problems involving alcohol.
• She does not describe herself as an alcoholic.
• Drinking could intensify negative thoughts.
• Negative online interactions could reinforce those thoughts.
• Therapy and greater self-understanding have become part of her mental health work.
• She believes people who are struggling should seek help.

Her comments illustrate an important point: someone does not have to identify with a particular label before alcohol or drug use deserves attention.

“Alcoholism” is an informal term rather than a formal diagnosis. The recognized medical condition is alcohol use disorder, commonly abbreviated as AUD.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines AUD as an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational or health consequences. Clinicians diagnose it based on established symptoms experienced during a 12-month period, and the condition may be classified as mild, moderate or severe.

Only a qualified healthcare professional can determine whether a person meets those criteria. Doja Cat’s public comments do not establish that she has or had AUD.

For readers, however, her disclosure raises a valuable question: Can drinking be harmful even when someone does not consider themselves addicted?

The answer is yes.

Problematic Drinking Does Not Always Match the Stereotype

Many people delay asking for help because their lives do not resemble the stereotypical image of severe alcohol addiction. They may continue working, traveling, maintaining relationships or meeting responsibilities while experiencing serious consequences from drinking.

Alcohol-related problems exist across a spectrum.

Potential warning signs include:

• Drinking more or for longer than intended
• Repeatedly wanting to reduce drinking but being unable to do so
• Using alcohol to cope with shame, anxiety, anger or painful thoughts
• Experiencing conflict or regrettable behavior while drinking
• Continuing to drink despite emotional, physical or relationship consequences
• Needing increasing amounts of alcohol to experience the same effects
• Spending significant time drinking or recovering from drinking
• Experiencing sleep problems, anxiety, irritability or low mood after drinking
• Having withdrawal symptoms when alcohol wears off

These signs do not allow someone to diagnose themselves or another person. They are reasons to consider speaking with a physician, licensed therapist or addiction professional.

People concerned about their drinking can learn more about alcohol addiction and available treatment options.

Anyone who drinks heavily or regularly should also avoid abruptly stopping without medical guidance. Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous for some people and may require supervised medical care.

What Are the Health Risks of Cocaine?

Doja Cat described her cocaine struggle as something that occurred approximately eight years ago and said she is now well past it. Her statement should not be interpreted as evidence of present cocaine use.

Cocaine nevertheless carries potentially serious risks, whether it is used regularly or occasionally.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse describes cocaine as an addictive stimulant that can cause serious medical complications. Its short-term effects may include increased energy and alertness, but cocaine can also contribute to anxiety, panic, paranoia, irregular heart rhythms, heart attack, stroke, seizures and overdose.

After its immediate effects subside, some people experience fatigue, irritability, depression, disrupted sleep or strong cravings. Continued use despite harmful consequences can be a sign that a clinical assessment is needed.

Combining cocaine with alcohol or other substances can introduce additional and unpredictable risks. A person may also unknowingly encounter cocaine contaminated with fentanyl or another potent substance.

Anyone who develops chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe agitation, hallucinations, seizures, extreme overheating or loss of consciousness following cocaine use needs emergency medical attention. Call 911 immediately.

Information about how long cocaine may remain detectable should not be used as a substitute for medical care. Detection times vary, and a drug test cannot determine whether someone has a substance use disorder or needs treatment.

Why Substance Use and Mental Health Must Be Considered Together

One of the most meaningful parts of Doja Cat’s disclosure was her description of alcohol, negative thoughts, mental health concerns and online interactions reinforcing one another.

That does not establish that she has a co-occurring substance use disorder. It does, however, reflect the type of interaction clinicians consider when evaluating a person’s mental health and substance use together.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration uses the term co-occurring disorders when someone has both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder.

Mental health symptoms and substance use can interact in several ways:

• Someone may use alcohol or drugs to temporarily escape emotional distress.
• Alcohol or drugs may intensify anxiety, depression, paranoia or impulsivity.
• Intoxication may reduce judgment and increase emotionally reactive behavior.
• Withdrawal can cause or worsen psychiatric symptoms.
• Sleep disruption can affect both emotional stability and recovery.
• Untreated symptoms may increase vulnerability to continued substance use.

Not everyone who drinks or uses drugs during an emotionally difficult period has a diagnosable co-occurring disorder. A comprehensive assessment is necessary because substance-related symptoms may overlap with independent mental health symptoms.

When both conditions are present, integrated care can be important. A dual-diagnosis treatment program is designed to evaluate and address mental health and substance use needs within a coordinated treatment plan.

Depending on the individual, care may involve psychiatric assessment, substance use counseling, psychotherapy, medication management, relapse-prevention planning, family involvement and continued recovery support.

Doja Cat’s Borderline Personality Disorder Disclosure

Earlier in 2026, Doja Cat publicly discussed being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, commonly called BPD.

In an April 2026 profile, Vogue reported that Doja Cat had been participating in therapy. She said therapy had helped her understand why she does certain things while acknowledging that she did not consider herself “cured.”

BPD is a mental health condition that can affect emotional regulation, relationships, behavior and a person’s sense of self. Symptoms and their severity differ substantially between individuals.

The National Institute of Mental Health explains that a licensed mental health professional can diagnose BPD following a thorough discussion of symptoms and personal and family medical histories. Psychotherapy is the primary form of treatment, and effective treatment can help many people experience fewer and less severe symptoms.

BPD should never be reduced to stigmatizing stereotypes about someone being “dramatic,” manipulative, difficult or dangerous. A diagnosis also does not mean that a person has a substance use disorder.

If BPD and a substance use disorder occur together, each condition should be professionally assessed and addressed. Treatment may focus on emotional regulation, impulsivity, interpersonal stress, substance-related triggers and safer coping strategies.

Readers can find additional educational information about borderline personality disorder. This information cannot be used to diagnose Doja Cat or anyone else.

How Social Media Can Reinforce Negative Thoughts

Doja Cat also discussed using the internet as a source of validation for negative thoughts and responding more intensely to hostile comments that affected her.

Social media does not independently cause every mental health or substance use problem. For some people, however, repeated exposure to criticism, harassment, comparison and conflict can intensify distress or interfere with sleep and healthy coping.

Alcohol and other substances may further reduce judgment and increase the likelihood of impulsive online behavior.

A self-reinforcing pattern can develop:

1. Someone feels ashamed, rejected, anxious or angry.
2. Alcohol or drugs offer temporary escape or emotional relief.
3. Intoxication contributes to impulsive posting, arguing or compulsive scrolling.
4. Online reactions produce more anger, shame or anxiety.
5. The person returns to substances to change how they feel.

Breaking that pattern may require more than deleting an app. A therapist can help someone understand what emotional need is being served by both the substance use and the online behavior.

Helpful steps may include protecting sleep, creating device-free periods, avoiding social media while drinking, limiting exposure to hostile accounts, identifying trusted offline support and discussing worsening symptoms with a professional.

Public Disclosure Can Reduce Shame, but It Is Not a Treatment Plan

When a high-profile artist speaks openly about substance use and mental health, people with similar experiences may feel less isolated. That can be especially meaningful for younger fans who assume that fame or professional success protects someone from emotional pain.

Celebrity disclosures also have important limitations.

A TikTok video or interview does not provide a complete medical history. The public usually does not know whether a person met diagnostic criteria for a particular disorder, what treatment they received or which personal factors contributed to improvement.

Doja Cat’s experience should therefore not be treated as a universal recovery plan. The responsible lesson is that acknowledging a problem can create an opportunity to seek appropriate help.

When Should Someone Seek Professional Help?

Consider speaking with a qualified addiction or mental health professional when alcohol, cocaine or another substance is:

• Used repeatedly to cope with painful emotions
• Becoming difficult to reduce or stop
• Contributing to anxiety, depression, paranoia or impulsive behavior
• Damaging relationships, work, finances or physical health
• Producing cravings, tolerance or withdrawal symptoms
• Being hidden from family members or partners
• Combined with prescription medications or other drugs
• Associated with suicidal thinking or other unsafe behavior

A professional assessment does not automatically mean someone needs residential rehabilitation. Its purpose is to understand the person’s symptoms, risks and circumstances and identify an appropriate level of care.

Recommendations might include individual therapy, psychiatric care, an outpatient addiction treatment program, intensive outpatient care, residential treatment or inpatient rehabilitation.

Medical detox may be appropriate when stopping a substance could create significant withdrawal risks.

How Can Family Members Respond?

A disclosure about alcohol, drugs or emotional distress can leave loved ones feeling frightened, angry or uncertain. A constructive response generally combines compassion with appropriate boundaries.

Choose a calm and private time to talk. Describe specific behaviors and consequences instead of attacking the person’s character. Listen without arguing about whether the individual is “really addicted,” and encourage a professional assessment.

If the person accepts help, practical support can make treatment easier to begin. This might include helping schedule an assessment, reviewing treatment options, checking insurance benefits or arranging transportation.

Families should not attempt to manage a suspected overdose, severe withdrawal or psychiatric crisis at home. TheRecover’s guidance on how to help someone consider rehab can help loved ones prepare for a more productive conversation.

What Is the Larger Lesson From Doja Cat’s Disclosure?

Doja Cat’s comments are receiving widespread attention because she is famous, but the experiences underlying her story are not limited to celebrities.

Many people use alcohol or drugs while struggling with shame, anxiety, identity, depression, unstable relationships or outside pressure. Some recognize the pattern early. Others believe they must experience a dramatic “rock bottom” before asking for help.

They do not.

A person can seek help because drinking changes their mood. They can request an assessment because cocaine use frightens them. They can talk with a therapist because negative thoughts or social media interactions are becoming unmanageable.

They do not have to wait until their circumstances become catastrophic.

Doja Cat’s disclosure ultimately carries a constructive message: people can change, a difficult period does not have to define an entire life, and asking for help is not a personal failure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Doja Cat say she was addicted to cocaine?

Doja Cat said she “struggled with cocaine” approximately eight years ago and considers herself well past that period. She did not publicly disclose a diagnosis of cocaine use disorder, and the available information is insufficient to diagnose her.

Did Doja Cat say she is an alcoholic?

No. Doja Cat specifically said she did not consider herself an alcoholic, although she acknowledged having problems involving alcohol. Only a qualified professional can diagnose alcohol use disorder.

Is Doja Cat currently using cocaine?

Her public statements do not indicate current cocaine use. She described the cocaine struggle as occurring approximately eight years ago and said she is now well past it.

Did Doja Cat go to rehab?

Doja Cat did not announce that she entered an addiction rehabilitation program. Reports indicate that she has participated in therapy, but therapy should not be inaccurately described as rehab.

What mental health condition has Doja Cat discussed?

Doja Cat has publicly discussed being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and participating in therapy. Her statements should not be used to diagnose anyone else or imply that BPD caused her past substance use.

Where can someone find immediate help?

For a suspected overdose or immediate medical danger, call 911. People in the United States experiencing suicidal thoughts or severe emotional distress can call or text 988 or use the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Confidential Treatment Resource Guidance

If you or someone you care about is struggling with alcohol, cocaine or co-occurring mental health symptoms, TheRecover can help you explore treatment resources and appropriate questions to ask providers.

Call (888) 510-3898 for confidential treatment resource guidance.

TheRecover is a behavioral health publication and treatment referral resource. It does not provide medical treatment, therapy, diagnosis, medication or emergency services.

This article is based on Doja Cat’s publicly reported statements and is intended for news, informational and educational purposes. It does not diagnose Doja Cat or any reader and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.