The Truth About Nikki Newman's Health

Nikki's trouble with alcohol began during her first marriage to Jack Abbott when she suffered two miscarriages and the loss of their newborn baby. She turned to alcohol as a way to cope with her grief, and during this time she also became addicted to painkillers after she fell off a horse and injured her back (via Soap Central).

Nikki has relapsed several times through the years, though not always of her own doing. Once, a woman named Meggie McClaine (Sean Young) began slipping alcohol into her drinks in an attempt to win Victor's affections. When Victor realized that Nikki had fallen off the wagon he helped check her into a rehab facility, though she continued drinking when she discovered that Victor had married Diane Jenkins (Maura West).

Nikki snuck out of rehab and, drunk, got into an altercation with Victor's new wife, which resulted in Diane's death. Having blacked out and believing she had killed Diane in cold blood, Nikki began drinking even more heavily to cope with the stress. Victor, not wanting to see Nikki imprisoned, took the fall for the murder before video evidence surfaced proving that Nikki had acted in self defense.

Later, she relapsed again after the death of her dear friend Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper), several times after being betrayed by Victor, and again after the death of her son-in-law J.T. Hellstrom (Thad Luckinbill).

Actress Melody Scott Thomas who has played Nikki Newman for over 40 years said in an interview with Michael Fairman that she enjoys her character's drinking — as the cast, writers, and viewers all find "boozy Nikki" very entertaining and it's fun for her to portray.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).