Lil Nas X Was Likely On Meth Before Arrest, Addiction Expert Claims

Grammy-winning rapper Lil Nas X, best known for his smash hits “Old Town Road” and “Industry Baby,” is making headlines for all the wrong reasons after a shocking arrest in Los Angeles that left fans concerned for his health and future. The 26-year-old star, whose legal name is Montero Lamar Hill, was taken into custody last week after police say he was found wandering the streets in nothing but tighty-whities and cowboy boots. Lil Nas X also allegedly assaulted officers during what authorities suspect was a drug-fueled episode and possible overdose.

Lil Nas X pleaded not guilty in court on Monday but agreed to attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings as ordered by the judge. He was later released on $75,000 bail, a steep reduction from prosecutors’ request of $300,000.

The shocking incident has ignited conversations not just about celebrity behavior but also about the growing drug crisis in Hollywood and beyond, where overdose deaths linked to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids continue to climb.

Addiction and recovery expert Richard Taite, founder of the elite treatment centers Cliffside Malibu and Carrara Treatment, spoke exclusively to The Blast about the red flags in Lil Nas X’s behavior, the unique pressures stars face, and why today’s drug supply is deadlier than ever.

“My first thought was that he was most likely on meth or it could have been meth-heavy pink cocaine,” Taite speculated after seeing the video of Lil Nas X. “When you’re on meth, you’re up for days at a time and you typically start hallucinating at the beginning of day three. Over time, you simply live in the hallucination.”

Taite warns that situations like this often spiral out of control when handled only as criminal cases. “Unchecked, a mental health crisis caused by excessive drug use usually leads to health, legal, and criminal problems accompanied by other wreckage like losing jobs and your family,” he said.

While fans might assume celebrities like Lil Nas X have unlimited resources to avoid such meltdowns, Taite says the opposite is often true.

“Just because you’re a celebrity doesn’t mean you have the tools for living. It just means that you have ‘yes’ people and hangers-on to enable your dangerous behavior,” he explained. “Managers and agents only earn when the celebrity is working. This creates constant pressure to leave treatment too early, long before the celebrity is ready to cope. The result is relapses, repeated treatment, and tragedies you never get used to.”

Taite has long cautioned that today’s drug supply is more dangerous than at any point in history.

“Over 70% of the pills and powders on the streets these days have fentanyl in them,” he said. “If someone is buying cocaine and there’s fentanyl in it, even without a lethal dosage, they could die because they don’t have a tolerance for it.”

The misconception, he stresses, is that experimenting with drugs is still harmless “celebrity drama.”

“That’s shortsighted. This thing is killing everyone. It does not care who you are,” Taite continued. “There is nothing more unnatural than having to bury your child due to an overdose, and celebrities are somebody’s kid.”

Despite the shocking headlines, Taite insists that recovery is possible, even for those in the public eye, such as Lil Nas X.

“The message to him, and others dealing with substance abuse, is this: It’s not a death sentence. This is a speed bump,” he told The Blast. “With top-notch treatment, this truly is merely a speed bump in your life.”

Taite recommends loved ones keep Narcan on hand and not hesitate to call 911 in overdose situations. For long-term success, he points to his upcoming book “Transcendence” (out October 14), co-authored with Dr. Constance Scharff, which dives into what lasting recovery looks like.

“I promise that someone suffering from addiction can get past this and truly thrive in the world, building a life they can be proud of,” Taite said. “I’ve helped people get clean for over 20 years. It happens every day.”