De Blasio’s Daughter Admits Substance Abuse

Nineteen-year-old's father will be the mayor of New York City beginning next week

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Chiara de Blasio, the 19 year-old-daughter of New York City’s soon-to-be Mayor Bill de Blasio, acknowledged a history of battling depression and drug abuse in a video shared by the de Blasio campaign on Tuesday.

“I’ve had depression, clinical depression for my entire adolescence, so that’s something I’ve always dealt with, or not known how to deal with,” she said. “I wanted to speak out because people are suffering from this disease and dying from this disease every day.”

Chiara de Blasio, who is currently a college sophomore, said she had sought treatment at a center in New York City.

“As parents, our instinct has been to protect our daughter and privately help her through a deeply personal struggle,” de Blasio and his wife Chirlane McCray said a statement.  “But not only has Chiara committed to her own health, she is also committed to helping young people everywhere who face similar challenges.”

During the New York Democratic primary, Bill de Blasio put Chiara and teenage son Dante at the center of his campaign.

De Blasio will take office on January 1.