14 DAY TRIAL // Elizabeth Vargas, the anchor on ABC’s 20/20 segment, has been MIA for some time now, as her loyal viewers must have noticed, and the reason for her extended absence has just been revealed: she’s in rehab, getting treatment for alcohol addiction.
NY Daily News’ Confidenti@l column was the first to report on Vargas’ rehab stay, saying that she’d been getting treatment for her addiction to alcohol at a “well-respected” center since she went off the air.
She is expected to remain there for a few weeks more, until she completes treatment, after which she will return on the set of the ABC news show, an insider reveals for the publication.
Minutes after this got out in the press, Vargas herself issued a statement to confirm the report, coming clean about her alcohol addiction but stressing that, right now, the most important thing to remember is that she’s admitted to having a problem and she’s getting the help she needs.
If speaking out on this will help at least another person in her situation seek help, she is happy, Ms. Vargas says.
“Like so many people, I am dealing with addiction. I realized I was becoming increasingly dependent on alcohol. And feel fortunate to have recognized it for the problem it was becoming. I am in treatment and am so thankful for the love and support of my family, friends and colleagues at ABC News,” reads her statement.
“Like so many others, I will deal with this challenge one day at a time. If coming forward today gives one other person the courage to seek help, I’m grateful,” Vargas adds.
ABC has also issued a statement, virtually squashing incipient rumors about what Vargas might stand to lose professionally because of her admission / rehab stint, to say that the ABC News family is looking forward to having her back.
“We are proud of the steps Elizabeth has taken and are pulling for her recovery. […] Elizabeth is a member of our family, and we will support her in every way we can,” the statement from the network says.