Melanie Griffith speaks of daughters' impact after drug addictions

Melanie Griffith’s family convinces the actress to return to rehab

Melanie Griffith’s third trip to rehab in 2009 was caused by her daughters who sat the 54-year-old actress down and convinced her to go. Griffith spoke of her impact on her family and resumed her acting career after rehab.

On the intervention with her daughters, Dakota and Stella, Melanie Griffith said, “I don’t want to say what really happened, but they were the ones who said, ‘You really need to get help,’ and I heard them and knew what they meant. And I saw it and I did it,” adding, “But I couldn’t have done it without them. I really couldn’t have. And I’m so grateful. I see now I just didn’t get it before. It doesn’t mean that I’m stupid. It’s just that that’s what the disease is.”

Melanie Griffith’s drug abuse began in the 80s after her success from her role in Working Girl, and her heavily publicized divorce with ex-husband Don Johnson. She began with a painkiller addiction but also formed an addiction to alcohol and cocaine.

After years of full disclosure, Melanie Griffith’s condition began to take a toll on her family. According to ABC News, Griffith’s husband, Antonio Banderas, said, “The pretending is the worst because kids are so smart,” adding, “They can see through all of those things, and if you don’t talk openly about problems, it creates a very dark place. They carry that through the rest of their lives, to their marriages, to their kids.”

On her painkiller addiction, Melanie Griffith said, “I never tried heroin, but they say that it’s like that. You detox, and it’s like you’re out of control. Your body physically is a different entity from your soul.  It was so…”

“Often times it takes for an addict to hear from the people that love them most, exactly how they’re being affected by the choices of the addiction,” said Kristina Wandzilak, founder of Full Circle Intervention, on Melanie Griffith’s persuasion.

Griffith accomplished rehab three years ago and is set to return to the stage for a production called No Way Around But Through, written by “Hawaii 5-0” actor Scott Caan, whom will also star across the actress. Melanie Griffith’s most recent role runs through July 8 at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank.