New Moon

‘Twilight Saga’s’ Chaske Spencer Opens Up About Heroin Battle

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Chaske Spencer,New Moon,Twilight,The Twilight Saga,Eclipse,Rehab,Movies
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  • ‘Twilight Saga’ star Chaske Spencer smiles wide for the camera at the MTV Movie Awards at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal Studios in Universal City, Calif. on June 6, 2010
  • Chaske Spencer plays around with Spin Master Bakugan toys at Access Hollywood’s 4th Annual ‘Stuff You Must…' Golden Globes Gifting Lounge at the Sofitel Hotel in LA on January 15, 2010
  • ‘New Moon’ hottie Chaske Spencer pre-ordered Cult of Individuality’s ‘rocker’ style skinny jeans
  • The wolfpack - Taylor Lautner, Alex Meraz, Kiowa Gordon, Chaske Spencer, and Bronson Pelletier - in ‘New Moon’
  • Chaske Spencer gets his popcorn arm ready with AMC Theatres for the premiere of ‘New Moon’
  • Shaun Robinson gets a kiss from Alex Meraz of the wolf pack as she sits alongside Julia Jones and Chaske Spencer at the ‘Eclipse’ junket, LA, June 12, 2010

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  • Getty Images

    ‘Twilight Saga’ star Chaske Spencer smiles wide for the camera at the MTV Movie Awards at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal Studios in Universal City, Calif. on June 6, 2010
  • WireImage

    Chaske Spencer plays around with Spin Master Bakugan toys at Access Hollywood’s 4th Annual ‘Stuff You Must…' Golden Globes Gifting Lounge at the Sofitel Hotel in LA on January 15, 2010
  • WireImage

    ‘New Moon’ hottie Chaske Spencer pre-ordered Cult of Individuality’s ‘rocker’ style skinny jeans
  • Summit Entertainment

    The wolfpack - Taylor Lautner, Alex Meraz, Kiowa Gordon, Chaske Spencer, and Bronson Pelletier - in ‘New Moon’
  • WireImage

    Chaske Spencer gets his popcorn arm ready with AMC Theatres for the premiere of ‘New Moon’
  • Access Hollywood

    Shaun Robinson gets a kiss from Alex Meraz of the wolf pack as she sits alongside Julia Jones and Chaske Spencer at the ‘Eclipse’ junket, LA, June 12, 2010

FIRST PUBLISHED: July 14, 2010 5:05 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

“Twilight Saga’s” Chaske Spencer – who plays wolf pack leader Sam Ulrey – is opening up about his past struggles with drugs and alcohol – something the actor says he blew millions on and which almost cost him his life.

“I tasted my first drink at 15,” Chaske, who grew up on numerous Native American reservations around the country, recently told People. “It took about three cans of beer to get drunk, and that was it. I was sold. I thought, ‘This is the best thing ever.’ My Parents were starting to separate at the time, so I was very angry.”

At 21, the he moved to New York to study acting, where he was first exposed to cocaine.

“Next thing I know, my heart’s pounding, and I’m up all night. I think I’m gonna die, but I still did it again and again,” he recalled to People, explaining that he was then introduced to heroin through a girlfriend. “I started smoking it, then snorting it. Three months in, I was doing it every day. I’d never memorize my lines; I couldn’t function to audition. My work ethic went out the door.”

After multiple attempts to stop, Chaske was arrested after attempting to buy marijuana from two undercover cops and he landed behind bars. After getting out of jail, he sought help at a rehab center in Washington state that specialized in treating Native Americans.

“It was appealing to me because I came from the same experiences and I could relate to a lot [of the other people seeking treatment].They had us make a list of how much you’d spent on drugs. I’d blow $2 million,” the 35-year-old actor told the mag.

After just one year of staying clean, Chaske landed his role in “New Moon.”

“I got pretty tight with the wolf guys. I took each of them aside and told them I’m an addict and an alcoholic and that’s why I don’t drink,” he explained.

As part of his sobriety, Chaske now spends time giving back to his community through work with United Global Shift, a nonprofit organization that works with Native Americans

Copyright 2010 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Rachelle Lefevre: ‘It Was Devastating’ Being Fired From ‘Twilight’ Series

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Rachelle Lefevre,New Moon,The Twilight Saga,Twilight,Movies

At the EW Pre-Emmy party in West Hollywood, Calif., Rachelle Lefevre talks “New Moon” breaking records on pre-sale tickets, being dismissed from the “Twilight” franchise and moving forward with her movie, “Barney’s Version.”

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