Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, star of "Jersey Shore: Family Vacation," is four months sober and has revealed details about his struggles with addiction and mental health. Ortiz-Magro shared that his use of the prescription drug Seroquel, taken for insomnia and bipolar disorder, led to him appearing to nod off during a SiriusXM interview in April.
Ortiz-Magro clarified that he was not using his drug of choice, cocaine, at the time of the interview. He explained that his prescription medications, including Seroquel, Abilify, Zoloft, and Wellbutrin, were not providing relief for his depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. This led him to self-medicate with cocaine, which he had begun using again in January.
He recounted that after arriving late for the press tour in Manhattan, he took his Seroquel medication close to his early morning call time. "Next thing you know I’m a couple hours in and I’m like, ‘S–t, I’m not gonna make it,'" he told The Post. He expressed regret for pushing back his flight and taking his medication late, acknowledging the incident was "kind of my fault."
Ortiz-Magro described hitting a low point where he experienced suicidal thoughts, stemming from his simultaneous battles with depression and addiction. "I’ve always suffered from depression, and I’ve always suffered from addiction. But I’ve never had both," he stated. He attributed his mental health conditions to genetics, noting his father's history of addiction.
In May, Ortiz-Magro sought treatment at Beond, a facility in Cancun, Mexico, that uses ibogaine, a psychedelic drug derived from a plant, to treat addiction. He found the treatment effective in reducing cravings, which he described as "monkey brain."
Since returning home, Ortiz-Magro has focused on his role as a father to his 8-year-old daughter, Ariana, and on self-care. He has resumed attending church and AA meetings and has a sponsor. He shared his sobriety news on Instagram, stating he has not used depression medication, anxiety medication, bipolar medication, or any alcohol or drugs in four months. The post garnered significant attention and supportive messages from fans, which he said motivates him to maintain his sobriety.