Lady Gaga: Drugs could have ruined everything

July 09, 2010 - New York, New York, U.S. - Lady Gaga on the ''Today'' Show Toyota Concert Series at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City on 07-09-2010. I14908KBA. © Red Carpet PicturesLady Gaga has revealed why she stopped taking drugs.

Gaga was desperate to rebel, but gave up the drugs to save her relationship with her parents, and because the drugs could  have ruined everything for her.

‘I don’t like to talk about it too much, but there were drugs in my teenage years,’ she said.

‘The reason I don’t like to talk about it is I wouldn’t want anyone else to do it. I believe it could have ruined everything.’

‘I was a middle-class girl who wanted to rebel and discover all these different sides to life. It was my dad who pulled me back. I wanted to show my parents I was completely wild. My dad thought I’d lost it. He came to see me and told me if I didn’t pull back I would lose everything. That completely shook me, because even though I wanted to rebel, my parents are the people I respect most in this world. I didn’t want to lose my father’s respect, so I stopped.’

‘As a performer I’m outrageous and wild, but as a person I have a very strong moral code.’

‘To this day I feel guilt about what I put my parents through when I was younger. I’ll call my mother out of the blue and say, ‘Mom, I’m so sorry about what I did.’’

‘They’re very proud of me today, but I wouldn’t have their pride if I hadn’t listened to them and told them I was sorry. It’s as important to acknowledge your mistakes as it is to get credit for your victories.’