AceShowbiz - Joshua Bassett, known for his role in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, has revealed the depths of his ketamine addiction following a life-threatening cardiac event in 2021.

In his book Rookie: My Public, Private, and Secret Life, the 25-year-old shares a poignant poem titled "Jesus open his eyes," where he describes how his substance use quickly spiraled out of control after being hospitalized.

"My reckless addictions rapidly spiraled, relentlessly growing worse and worse and worse," Bassett wrote in the poem. He detailed how the extreme highs and crushing lows finally caught up with him during his time in New York.

In January 2021, just weeks after his 20th birthday, Bassett was admitted to the hospital for heart failure and septic shock. After his release, he turned to drugs as a way to cope with the intense pain he was experiencing.

Bassett recounted in the poem how he was using "six baggies of Ketamine, all by myself, every single night." He explained that instead of just snorting a line, he would consume an entire bag in one inhalation, often taking more before even starting his day.

This pattern went on for weeks, with Bassett describing a relentless cycle where his dealer only began selling at 3 p.m., prompting him to set alarms to withdraw his maximum daily cash allowance and buy more drugs.

Eventually, the actor hit rock bottom. One morning, he attempted meditation as a way to find peace and "reach enlightenment." It was during this moment that he felt the presence of the "Holy Spirit" in his room.

"I was painfully reminded of the evil I had become; poor, wretched, naked and blind," he wrote. At that instant, he realized, "I knew that I knew that I knew Jesus is the way, the truth and the life - and I desperately needed Him."

In another poem from his book, titled "It makes perfect sense that you're drowning," Bassett admits that he kept his battles with substance abuse largely to himself.

"My addictions reached a point, where I knew if I kept down that path, I wouldn't make it out alive," he shared. Feeling like a "spinning-out-car-wreck waiting to happen," he eventually sought help, acknowledging that admitting to his problem was the first step toward recovery.

Since then, Bassett measures his quality of life by "the distance between me and Jesus," emphasizing how his newfound faith has been central to his sobriety and personal transformation.

He previously opened up about how embracing spirituality dramatically changed his perspective on life and recovery. During a 2024 interview on the Zach Sang Show, Bassett reflected on this renewed outlook.

"I feel this new lease on life, I felt more peace than I ever experienced in my life," he said. "I'm, like, literally jumping for joy like I was a child again."

Rookie: My Public, Private, and Secret Life is currently available, offering an intimate glimpse into his struggles and growth.

If you or someone you know is facing challenges with substance abuse, help is available. Contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).