New York City Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio’s 19 year old daughter, Chiara, spoke candidly about her struggles with substance abuse and depression in a video released on Christmas Eve.
“It made it easier, the more I drank and did drugs, to share some common ground with people I wouldn’t have,” Chiara said in the video. “It didn’t start out as a huge thing for me but then it became a really huge thing for me.”
In a statement obtained by local station ABC 7, Bill and Chirlane de Blasio explained that Chiara is “committed to helping young people everywhere who face similar challenges.”
“Her courage to speak out demonstrates a wisdom and maturity far beyond her 19 years, and we are grateful every day for her commitment to lifting up those who need to know that they are not alone,” the statement continued.
