Zac Efron rose to fame after a starring role in Disney Channel’s High School Musical. Like many before him, and likely many after, Zac’s battle to break away from his squeaky clean tween image hasn’t been easy. The 25-year-old has allegedly been battling a cocaine addiction for the last two years.
“He surrounds himself with a group that enjoys partying,” an inside close to the star tells PEOPLE. “He got caught up in the partying lifestyle the past few years.”
The former child star has allegedly done not one, but two stints in rehab this year for his addictions. Zac first checked himself into rehab in March after realizing he couldn’t clean up his act without the help of professionals. TMZ reports that the star kissed California goodbye, seeking help in a private residence where he attended intensive outpatient care for weeks.
Sources close to the Neighbors star say it wasn’t until he began shooting his upcoming film with Seth Rogen that his demons began haunting him yet again. Efron reportedly took a page from Lindsay Lohan’s book, not showing up to set for filming. TMZ claims it didn’t take long for word to spread that he was back to his old partying ways.
TMZ’s sources report that after the film wrapped, Zac once again sought out professional help.
The root of Zac’s problem seems to not only come from his need to shed his child star persona, but from his personal life. Efron reportedly struggles with his relationship with his parents, who TMZ is reporting are extremely controlling. He also allegedly has trouble coping with his love life and has fallen in with a bad crowd who introduced him to the drug.
As of now, Efron has managed to avoid legal troubles and has reportedly cut most of the bad influences out of his life. We wish him the best!
