Lola Young has opened up about her treatment for addiction and attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings after collapsing onstage in New York last year.
The former NME Cover star cancelled her tour at the time and said that she was “going away” for a while following the incident at the All Things Go Festival.
Now in a new interview with Rolling Stone, Young revealed that she checked herself into a holistic facility for two months, and started attending AA meetings.
“It was a decision… that I had to make, and it was sad that I had to do that,” she said. “What else was I going to do, die? That was the reality of where my addiction was heading.”
Young – who has schizoaffective disorder and ADHD – said despite collapsing, that she was “very grateful” for it all the same.
She added: “It was, what do you call that? Like, a breaking point which allowed me to then be able to be here today, allowed me to be better for my fans, better for the future, and better for myself.”
Referring to her tracks ‘D3aler’ and ‘Not Like That Anymore’ which deal with addiction issues, Young said: “I’m just writing what I’m feeling, and then I’ll realise later, ‘Oh, fuck. I shouldn’t have said that I’m a raging drug addict’.
“Then I’m like, ‘You know what? I am. What the fuck am I trying to hide?’”
Young made her return performing at the Grammys last month, and then took home her first trophy at the ceremony.
She was also one of the most nominated artists at this year’s BRIT Awards – winning Breakthrough Artist. Young has since performed at the Palladium in London, marking her first headline performance in 2026.
Sharing a message after the date, Young wrote: “Six months ago everything was off for me. I knew I needed to deal with some stuff and take time out and with that came huge insecurity about my career. I was genuinely fearful that I might lose my moment, a moment I’d spent over 10 years grafting for. So this is such a huge moment of affirmation for me.”
“[But] when things get dark and I’m not doing well, knowing that I can still come back is incredibly rewarding. More rewarding than any award will ever be,” she added. “I love you and can’t wait to put new music out and continue this journey with you in my corner.”
She has since announced a run of four UK shows in June. Find any remaining tickets here.
Young also recently joined the line-up for this year’s BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend. This year’s festival will be held in Sunderland for the first time, taking place at the Herrington Country Park between Friday May 22 and Sunday May 24. Tickets are on sale now – get yours here.
For help, advice or more information regarding addiction in the UK, visit the FRANK website. In the US, visit SAMHSA.
For further help and advice on mental health:
- “Am I depressed?” – Help and advice on mental health and what to do next
- MITC – A collective of musician industry therapists
- TONIC Rider – Bespoke training and support for music industry professionals
- Help Musicians UK – Around the clock mental health support and advice for musicians
- Music Support Org – Help and support for musicians struggling with alcoholism, addiction, or mental health issues
- YOUNG MINDS – The voice for young people’s health and wellbeing
- CALM – The Campaign Against Living Miserably