ABC Presenter, Elizabeth Vargas: "I Am An Alcoholic"

  • 25 January 2014

Elizabeth Vargas, a presenter on ABC news, has publically admitted she is an alcoholic. The 51-year-old spoke on a pre-taped interview with Good Morning America.

Image caption Elizabeth Vargas has admitted she is an alcoholic.

As Us Weekly reports, the journalist and news anchor opened up about her battle with alcoholism. In the interview she stated "I am. I am an alcoholic." She continued by describing the difficulties she faced in admitting to her illness, saying "It took me a long time to admit that to myself. It took me a long time to admit it to my family, but I am."

It seems Vargas' family were instrumental in her coming to terms with her condition. Her husband, singer Marc Cohn, told her she had a problem and her children would joke about her nightly glass of wine, calling it "Mommy's juice." Her response was initially anger when her husband asked her to seek help and Vargas further stated she did not feel she had a problem.

It was only when she realised she was making deals with herself about when she could drink that she decided to find help. During the interview she said "I started thinking 'Well, you know, I'll only drink, you know, on weekends. I'll only drink, you know, two glasses of wine a night. I won't drink on nights before I have to get up and do . But those deals never work."

Image caption Elizabeth Vargas realised she had an alcohol problem when her family commented on her consumption.

It was only when she realised she was making deals with herself about when she could drink that she decided to find help. During the interview she said "I started thinking 'Well, you know, I'll only drink, you know, on weekends. I'll only drink, you know, two glasses of wine a night. I won't drink on nights before I have to get up and do Good Morning America. But those deals never work."

Vargas announced in November she was entering a rehab facility for her alcohol problem. Afterwards she took to Twitter to thank fans for their support and to inform them she was "much better and taking it one day at a time." Currently she is seeking treatment through Alcoholic Anonymous and through support of her family. On this matter, she said: "I'm part of AA. I have a sponsor. I have great, great friends who I love and who love me."