American actress Brandy Ledford, best known for her role as lifeguard Dawn Masterton on "Baywatch: Hawaii," has spoken publicly about her long battle with substance abuse and her path to recovery. In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, the 57-year-old described years of alcohol and drug addiction that began in early adolescence, including marijuana use at 11, cocaine and alcohol by 14, and two alcohol-related jailings before age 17. She said her dependency eventually extended to prescription pain medication and led to a "harrowing" final night before she voluntarily entered rehab, marking the start of 14 years of sobriety.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.