Former Tallahassee Mayor, Andrew Gillum, is entering rehab for alcohol abuse following an incident at a Miami Beach hotel involving crystal meth.
Gillum released a statement Sunday night that talks about him falling into a deep depression following his race as Governor.
“After a conversation with my family and deep reflection, I have made the decision to seek help, guidance and enter a rehabilitation facility at this time. This has been a wake-up call for me. Since my race for governor ended, I fell into a depression that has led to alcohol abuse. I witnessed my father suffer from alcoholism and I know the damaging effects it can have when untreated. I also know that alcoholism is often a symptom of deeper struggles. I am committed to doing the personal work to heal fully and show up in the world as a more complete person. I now need to firmly focus on myself and my family. I will be stepping down from all public facing roles for the foreseeable future. I want to apologize to my family, friends and the people of Florida who have supported me and put their faith in me over the years. I ask that you respect my and my family’s privacy during this time. Thank you.”
On Friday, Gillum was named in a police report that he was “inebriated” and initially unresponsive in a hotel room where authorities found small bags of suspected crystal methamphetamine.
Police say Gillum and two other men were in the hotel room. One of the men found Gillum and Travis Dyson under the influence of an “unknown substance,” according to Miami CBS Local.
Reports stated that Gillum was in the bathroom vomiting while officials began chest compressions on Dyson and later taken to a local hospital.
After the incident, Gillum released a statement.
“While I had too much to drink, I want to be clear that I have never used methamphetamines,” Gillum said. “I apologize to the people of Florida for the distraction this has caused for our movement.”
