LOS ANGELES _ Pop star Demi Lovato took to Instagram Sunday to share her first statement since being hospitalized for a drug overdose last month.
"I have always been transparent about my journey with addiction," the statement began. "What I've learned is that this illness is not something that disappears or fades with time. It is something I must continue to overcome and have not done yet.
"I want to thank God for keeping me alive and well," she continued. "To my fans, I am forever grateful for all of your love and support through this past week and beyond. Your positive thoughts and prayers have helped me navigate through this difficult time."
Lovato also expressed gratitude to her family, team and hospital staff before saying she needs time to "heal and focus on my sobriety and road to recovery."
"The love you have all shown me will never be forgotten," she wrote. "I will keep fighting."
Lovato was hospitalized on July 24 after police were called to her house in the Hollywood Hills. Sources told the Los Angeles Times that firefighters treated the singer with Narcan, which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
In the 2017 documentary "Simply Complicated," the singer opened up about her struggles with drug and alcohol abuse. In June she released the single "Sober," which details her relapse after six years of sobriety.
