Elizabeth Vargas Returns To TV After Rehab, Opens Up About Alcoholism

Back in November, we were all shocked when ABC anchor Elizabeth Vargas submitted herself into rehab due to problems with alcohol. "Like so many people, I am dealing with addiction," she said in a statement at the time. "I realized I was becoming increasingly dependent on alcohol. I am in treatment and am so thankful for the love and support of my family, friends and colleagues at ABC News."

The “20/20” cohost is now grateful for the support of her family and colleagues as she continues to battle her addiction and she opened up about her journey to recovery with Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos. “I am an alcoholic,” Vargas said in the interview that aired for the first time today. “It took me a long time to admit that to myself. It took me a long time to admit it to my family, but I am.”

“The amount of energy I expended keeping that secret and keeping this problem hidden from view was exhausting,” Vargas added. “Even to admit it to myself was admitting, I thought, that I was a failure.” She was later asked if anyone knew about her issues with alcohol, and she revealed that her husband, Marc Cohn did. He told her that she had a problem and she was an alcoholic, and it made her “really angry.” “But he was right,” she admitted.

“I mean, denial is huge for any alcoholic, especially for a functioning alcoholic, because I, you know, I’m not living under a bridge. I haven’t been arrested,” she said. But it all changed one afternoon when she showed up to shoot “20/20” and she realized she was “in no shape to do that interview.” Vargas said she knew she had to get help. So, in November 2013 Vargas headed to a treatment facility.

"I stayed for 28 days and left against their advice and came home because I really wanted to come home, and they said ‘we think you need to do more work,'" she recalled. "And I came home for five days and realized they were right, and I went back and finished."

She revealed that she explained to her sons, ages 7 and 10, that she had an “allergy” to alcohol and she needed to go away to get better. “I didn’t want to use the word ‘disease’ with them, even though that’s how it’s classified by the medical profession. It’s too scary, you know, the connotation for them is disease is something deadly … and we explained that I was going away to get better. And they came and visited me.”

Vargas added that she thinks her family is going to be ok now, and that she attends AA meetings and has a sponsor, as well as a great support system. We’re happy for her and her journey to recovery and hope she continues to get better and lead by her example.