Amber Valletta Addiction: Actress Reveals Addiction To Drugs And Alcohol

Amber Valletta has come clean about her addiction to drugs and alcohol.

In a new video, the 40-year-old model-turned-actress revealed she is suffering from addiction -- and has been for many years.

"I suffer from a disease called addiction," Valletta told wellness website MindBodyGreen.com, via a July 14 report by PEOPLE Magazine. "I've had it for as long as I can remember."

After embarking on a modeling career at a young age, Valletta, who recalls sniffing markers, glue and nail polish for a buzz as a child, began abusing alcohol and cocaine. At the age of 22, after landing a multi-million dollar modeling contract, Valletta's addiction was at its peak, and during her first gig under her new contract, Valletta showed up to the photo shoot drunk and high.

Three years later, Valletta acknowledged she had a problem and made the decision to get help before it was too late.

"I had to be willing to lift the veil off the shame and say, 'I'm addict, I can't do this alone, I don't want to do this alone, I don't feel comfortable, can you help me?'" she said.

Now that she's been clean and sober for 15 years, Valletta, whose new show Legends premieres on TNT on Aug. 13, hopes her story of addiction will help others who are dealing with the same struggles.

"My hope is that someone, somewhere in this room, out of this room will hear something that will help them and perhaps get them out of the shadows and the darkness of addiction and bring them into the light," she explained.