Paris Jackson Reveals Drug Use Left Her with a Perforated Septum: “It Ruined My Life”
Paris Jackson is opening up about the lasting physical and emotional effects of her past drug use.
In a candid TikTok video shared on Monday, Nov. 10, the 27-year-old singer and actress revealed that she has a perforated septum — a hole in the wall separating the nostrils — caused by substance abuse in her late teens.
“I’ve never actually addressed this,” Jackson told her followers, before using her phone flashlight to show the small hole in her septum. “I have a really loud whistle when I breathe through my nose. And that is because I have what’s called a perforated septum — slightly different from a deviated septum.”
Jackson continued, hinting that the cause was exactly what fans might assume. “That is from what you think it’s from,” she said. “Don’t do drugs, kids.”
The daughter of the late Michael Jackson has been six years sober, but she admitted that her substance abuse “ruined my life” before she decided to change course.
“I don’t recommend it,” she said plainly in the clip, adding that she refuses to get plastic surgery to fix the issue because recovery would require prescription medication. “You have to take pills when you have a surgery that gnarly,” Jackson explained, noting that she wants to avoid anything that could jeopardize her sobriety.
The star, who has lived with the condition since age 20, even joked about it, saying she could “thread a spaghetti noodle” through the hole in her septum — but admitted that it can be a real “bitch” when she’s in the recording studio.
Just last month, Jackson reflected on her recovery journey while accepting the Shining Star Award at the 35th Annual Friendly House Awards Luncheon in Los Angeles on Oct. 11.
“I didn’t just get my life back. I got a better one,” she said in her emotional speech. “Getting sober was like being in a car accident — everything I shoved in the back seat came forward on impact. Now I’m learning to live life on life’s terms.”
Friendly House provides support and sober living programs for women recovering from addiction and trauma — a cause close to Jackson’s heart.
“I’m grateful to be part of something that aligns with my higher purpose,” she said. “Helping others develop conscious contact has been the greatest action I’ve ever taken, and I pray to continue helping others.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, help is available. Call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free, confidential support 24/7.
