Joshua Bassett Opens Up About Ketamine Addiction, Calls Survival a 'Miracle'

Joshua Bassett is speaking candidly about his past battle with ketamine addiction, reflecting on how close he came to losing his life to the drug.

The 25-year-old actor and musician appeared on the Zach Sang Show podcast this week to discuss some of the most difficult periods of his life—experiences he also chronicles in his forthcoming memoir, Rookie: My Public, Private, and Secret Life.

The turning point came in 2021 when Bassett faced a medical emergency that left him hospitalized with heart failure and septic shock. Doctors informed him his survival odds were slim at just 30 percent.

In the aftermath of that crisis, Bassett turned to substances to cope with the trauma. He detailed his ketamine use, explaining that he would consume approximately six baggies of the drug each night. Rather than using measured amounts, he described inhaling entire bags at once. His dependency became so severe that he would use the drug before even starting his day, constantly chasing a high that never satisfied him.

The compulsion drove him to set reminders for when his dealer would begin operations, then rush to withdraw the maximum daily allowance from ATMs to fund his habit.

"It's a miracle my life hasn't been taken quite a few times, to be honest. You know, it's a miracle I'm here for sure," Bassett said on the podcast.

The star of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series also reflected on the nature of addiction itself. He emphasized how isolation fuels substance abuse, particularly when combined with financial resources that remove practical barriers to continued use.

"That's just a recipe for a really dangerous spiral," he noted.

Bassett's memoir explores these darker chapters of his life in greater depth, offering fans an intimate look at his personal struggles beyond his public persona.