Nick Carter Opens Up About Troubled Past

It’s no secret that Backstreet Boy Nick Carter has had some rough times. And after 10 years of struggling with alcohol and drugs, he is opening up.

Having a strong addiction, Carter felt nothing could make him stop, not a DUI, a fight, or weight gain.

Carter scheduled tests with a Florida cardiologist after feeling chest pain and fatigue while on tour with his band in Europe last spring.

The 29-year-old told People magazine, “I went out and just went nuts,” referring to the night before his test results. “I drank so much and I did a bunch of blow. I felt like I was trying to kill myself-because I didn’t want to get the results.”

The constant alcohol and drugs caused a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy, a “weakening of the heart muscle that could possibly require a transplant or lead to sudden death.”

At this point, Carter was faced with a choice - to live or die. “I don’t want to die. I don’t want to be that person people read about and think, ‘That’s sad that he couldn’t stop it and killed himself,’” he said.

Fortunately, the cardiologist laid down the rules and Nick sobered up - currently weighing in at 167 lbs. and in great health, describing life as “awesome.”

Gossip Girls

Enjoy the pictures of Nick Carter and friends out celebrating his 29th birthday(January 26).