Drugs & Alcohol

Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend Brian Hickerson gave her Narcan after he and his brother Zach Hickerson found her unconscious the day she died ... at least according to Zach ... and that's huge on many levels.

Zach tells TMZ ... "Brian gave her Narcan."

The admission is telling ... Hayden and Brian traveled to South Carolina the day before she died, so it seems they either traveled with Narcan or bought some in South Carolina shortly after arriving. Whatever the case, it suggests Hayden and/or Brian were really struggling with substance abuse.

Zach says he went to their Greenville Airbnb after not hearing from them, knocked, woke Brian up from a nap, and then the brothers discovered an unconscious Hayden ... with Zach calling 911 as Brian gave her Narcan, a medication administered nasally to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

In a statement to TMZ on Friday, Zach says ... "There are a lot of assumptions, speculations and accusations currently swirling. The truth will come out as the authorities complete and release additional details from the investigation. And that is important because the people who loved and adored Hayden deserve the truth."

Brian Hickerson got called on the carpet in an L.A. courtroom for being "quite high" during a recent TMZ interview, and that was enough for the judge to deny his attempt to clear his record.

Hickerson had filed a motion to expunge his 2020 domestic violence case -- where he beat girlfriend Hayden Panettiere -- and a judge took up the motion August 13th -- three days before Hayden's death. Hickerson and his lawyer were no-shows, but the D.A. had plenty to say.

For starters, the prosecutor noted he was arrested a year ago while high at a restaurant in West Hollywood. PEOPLE was first to report on the TMZ interview being used against Brian Hickerson in Court.

Hayden Panettiere's death is causing concern for Greenville, SC residents, who fear the actress is just the latest tragic example of the opioid crisis ravaging their city.

An addict-turned-advocate who lives in the area tells TMZ ... laced drugs and fatal overdoses have been a serious concern in Greenville for years, particularly in the area where Hayden died last Sunday.

She says the area's developed a reputation as a place where people can party and easily obtain drugs ... alleging some residents even have drugs delivered to their doorstep.

Darryl Strawberry has a message for anyone writing Nick Kyrgios off after the tennis star’s positive cocaine test ... ease up!

The former MLB slugger -- who famously battled drug abuse during his own playing days -- is now a pastor helping others through recovery ... and he recently spent a few minutes with TMZ Sports, making it crystal clear where he stands following Nick's positive test.

“I think it’s truly unfair when people punish people, especially athletes, that have substance abuse problems,” Strawberry told us. “I had it for a very long time and I received the same kind of treatment from the public. A lot of times we don’t understand what a person is going through emotionally, mentally, inside."

"Substance abuse is just something to escape from. You can be great as an athlete and have all the talent you want, but at the same time, when you’re broken on the inside, you need to be healed on the inside. And that’s all it is really for him.”

Hayden Panettiere was apparently struggling to stay sober while filming one of her final movies ... and her director says things got so concerning, her team discussed staging an intervention.

Griff Furst -- who directed Hayden in the 2025 movie "A Breed Apart" -- says Hayden was "fighting to stay sober" during production ... and claims her team reached out to him about taking part in an intervention.

Furst says he agreed to participate ... but, to his knowledge, the intervention never ended up happening.

Anna Faris says she quit alcohol because booze has a ton of negative effects on her ... and she's trying to break out of old patterns.

The actress opened up about kicking her old habits during an episode of the "Dear Chelsea" podcast ... telling host Chelsea Handler she used to feel "ungracious" about her comedic career, but recently changed her tune after getting on the wagon.

Chelsea asks if giving up alcohol had anything to do with her mindset switch ... and Anna says she thinks it's one of sobriety's many gifts.

Shia LaBeouf revealed he is drinking daily, months after his arrest on three counts of misdemeanor battery during Mardi Gras ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ obtained court docs as part of Shia's criminal case in New Orleans, where he was sentenced to two years' probation and ordered to attend an alcohol treatment class after pleading guilty to the charges.

Per court docs, Shia has been compliant with checking in with his probation supervisor and has provided proof that he will complete anger management and substance abuse treatment by next month.

The docs say Shia denied mental health treatment and self-reported that he drinks alcohol daily.

Hayden Panettiere's death is on the feds' radar ... TMZ has learned the DEA has joined the multi-agency investigation.

The Drug Enforcement Administration has agents assisting the parallel death investigations already underway ... according to our sources with direct knowledge of the probe. As we first reported, Greenville PD and the coroner's office are conducting parallel investigations ... and the DEA jumping on the case as well makes sense.

Remember, paramedics are heard telling a dispatcher Hayden had suffered a possible "overdose." Also, TMZ broke the story ... Narcan -- an over-the-counter OD treatment -- was found in the apartment where Hayden died.

Hayden Panettiere's mother says cops are taking a hard look at drug use in the police investigation into her death ... even bringing in a narcotics investigator to help.

Lesley Vogel told NBC News Wednesday that she's been informed cops are investigating the death ... adding she's even been told they brought in a narco detective.

She doesn't know where they're at in the investigation necessarily ... but Lesley adds the authorities seem to have quite a few questions regarding Hayden's death.

Tennis Star Nick Kyrgios' tennis career is in question after he tested positive for cocaine ahead of a match in Mallorca.

Nick announced on Instagram Wednesday he was provisionally suspended from tennis in June after he tested positive for the drug on the Spanish Island ... while admitting he knows he messed up big time.

He apologized to his fans, family, and sponsors, as well as the kids who idolize him, adding ... "I know the example this sets and I'm deeply disappointed in myself."

"Remember the Titans" actor Ethan Suplee shared a dark moment in his addiction battle while paying tribute to his costar Hayden Panettiere ... recalling the time he smoked heroin at their big movie premiere.

Ethan revealed on Substack that he was high on heroin at the film's 2000 premiere at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, smoking drugs in a bathroom just moments after sharing a sweet moment with Hayden.

Ethan said Hayden -- who was just 10 at the time -- ran up to him and jumped into his arms.

He recalled ... "Holding her I was lighter, some of her energy and innocence washed over me, and for a moment my smile was genuine."

Andrew Gillum is swapping jail for rehab ... but the court will still be keeping close tabs on him.

According to new legal documents obtained by TMZ, a judge ordered the former Florida gubernatorial candidate released from the Baldwin County Jail Friday ... so he could enter Cumberland Heights Treatment Center in Nashville.

Gillum must wear a GPS ankle monitor during his release ... and remain at the facility for at least 30 days, or however long it takes him to complete a drug and alcohol treatment program.

Lindsay Clancy's toxicology report identifies four prescription medications in a blood specimen collected from her on the day she allegedly murdered her three kids ... and now you can read through the findings.

The report, obtained by TMZ, was admitted as evidence in court during her murder trial in Massachusetts.

It says blood taken from Clancy identified lamotrigine, mirtazapine, quetiapine, and trazodone -- prescription medications used to treat mental health conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, and sleep issues.

Paris Jackson's diving into the meaning behind one of her new songs ... detailing a traumatic situation she's turned into art after getting sober ... and it involves drugs, an overdose, quick thinking and a happy ending.

Michael Jackson's daughter appeared on Alex Cooper's "Call Her Daddy" podcast in an episode published Wednesday ... and she explained her new track "Sirens" is probably her most emotional -- because it's based on her friend overdosing on her drugs.

Paris explains she had to keep her pal alive until paramedics arrived ... and they later told her if she hadn't acted as quickly as she did, he would either be brain dead or worse.

There are now two empty seats on the wagon -- 'cause Conor McGregor got wind of Brad Pitt's decision to consume alcohol again ... and said he'll drink to that!!

Notorious -- who opened up on his sobriety leading up to last month's Max Holloway fight -- announced his audible on Tuesday ... saying the "fellow actor" inspired him to have a couple pints of Forged Stout, which he launched in 2020.

McGregor sent his best wishes to Pitt ... while adding the bevvy contains 4.2-percent alcohol.

Emily Willis' family has reached a massive settlement with the Malibu rehab facility where she suffered catastrophic brain damage ... but TMZ has learned she's slowly recovering.

Emily's mother, Yesenia Cooper, tells TMZ ... Emily is not verbal but can communicate with her eyes and by shaking her head -- she understands about 80% of what is going on.

However, her mom tells us she is improving, getting better day by day, and still fighting to live the best life possible.