Jael Strauss, who was last seen in 2007 on America’s Next Top Model, is tackling an addiction to methamphetamine and will appear on an upcoming talk show after family and friends enlisted the help of Dr Phil.
The 28-year-old, who reached the final stages of the competition hosted by Tyra Banks, appeared looking dishevelled and ill as it was revealed six years of addiction to meth has left her homeless and desperate.
In fact, the trailer for the Dr Phil episode, which airs next week, is more haunting because it shows Strauss about to walk on stage before changing her mind and running away.
Dr Phil describes her as a “full blown meth addict” and dramatically goes out to find her in the studio’s parking lot.
Strauss struggled with personal issues during the filming of America’s Next Top Model and her addiction is thought to have begun around the same time. While filming, the then 22-year-old was told a friend died from a drug overdose, which left her understandably shaken. Later the same year she took legal action after erotic photos taken of her at 16 were made public.
The model’s meth habit has ravaged her looks, reportedly given her sores all over her body and rotted her teeth, but it seems she’s reluctant to accept the help of Dr Phil.
Methamphetamine, sometimes called “crystal meth,” is a recreational and highly addictive drug that releases dopamine in the brain, causing a burst of energy and euphoria. Among many other things, it causes cardiovascular damage and addicts often appear thin, twitchy and pale with bad skin and teeth.