MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson recently spoke with students at Fountain Hills High School in Fountain Hills, AZ about alcohol and drug addiction. Following is an excerpt from the report on his appearance:

Ellefson, a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, started his life in Minnesota, a self-described “Lutheran kid, organ player and school bus rider.”

His appearance at Fountain Hills High School was part of outreach efforts by Teen Addiction Anonymous and Fountain Hills Coalition.

As he became more and more immersed in the world of music, including playing in bands in his hometown, Ellefson told students he began experimenting with alcohol and drugs.

And while he ended up addicted to cocaine and heroin, Ellefson said his “gateway” drug was alcohol.

“I was 15 when I started drinking,” he told the young audience. “I started smoking pot when I was 16, and just followed that with cocaine and heroin.”

Despite his addictions, Ellefson continued an upward climb in the music business. In his early 20s, he was touring the world, playing to large audiences and was just steps away from playing stadium-sized shows.

Then it began to fall apart.

“Heroin is an insidious and sneaky drug,” he said. “And I was completely strung out on it.”

Megadeth was in England at a premier heavy metal festival, then called the Download Festival. Some 107,000 people saw the show. Ellefson played, then checked himself in to rehab.

For a year and a half, he was in and out of rehabilitation. And as he tried to break his addictions, Megadeth “just stopped. No Megadeth while David is in rehab,” Ellefson said.

He said he didn’t hit bottom until he had been in rehab three times. He said everyone’s worst point is different, but he knew when he had hit his, and he was ready to change.

“And I said, ‘Lord, please help me,’” he said.

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