Mackenzie Phillips opens up about how life of fame, abuse and addiction turned into a story of healing
TUSCALOOSA, Ala (WIAT) – Mackenzie Phillips is opening up with Alabamians about how a life of fame, abuse, and addiction has turned into a story of healing.
'One Day at a Time,' 'Orange is the New Black,' and 'So Weird' are just some of the tv shows you might have seen Phillips in.
She's the daughter of the lead singers for the 60's band Mamas & the Papas.
Phillips career and life growing up in music put her in the limelight – especially when she battled with addiction. Over the years, she survived several overdoses and spent numerous times at numerous addiction facilities.
'People go for the lead,' Phillips said. 'They want that shocking headline, when in fact the deeper thing is to understand the challenges of growing up the way I did.'
Which Alabama neighborhoods rank among the 2025 'Best Places to Live'?
Phillips is a sexual assault survivor. Her family has a history of addition, undiagnosed mental health disorders and physical abuse.
'I think that God gave me a purpose, and the purpose was to give me a broader platform – even if it was going to be difficult to go through,' Phillips said.
On Friday, that platform was inside the Bryant Conference Center at the University of Alabama where the Alabama School of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies hosted its annual conference.
It's a week-long event. The 2025 theme was 'Lighting the Path to a Brighter Future: Prevention, Treatment, Recovery,' and Phillips was chosen as the keynote speaker.
'We really do believe that there is a brighter future when we are not stuck by the things that hold us back and bring us harm,' ADADS' President Debbie Metzger said.
That's the message Phillips delivered Friday.
'Where there is breath, there is hope,' Phillips said. 'A lot of people say 'ah – they're going to die anyways just leave them over there,' well no, because I'm living proof.'
Phillips is 65 years old. That's the age her father died as a result of the battles she has spent decades to overcome: abuse, addiction, and mental health challenges.
'I didn't expect to live this long. So, to get where I am today is a freaking miracle,' Phillips said.
That's why she wrote the book 'Hopeful Healing: Managing Recovery and Surviving Addiction' which is what she calls a handbook to recovery.
'This book is not just for people who are in recovery or are trying to recover – it can help families,' Phillips said.
Which is what ASADS hopes to do through their mission and annual conference.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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