Shocking Revelation: MAFS' Jamie Otis Breaks Down as Doug Hehner Uncovers 12-Year-Old Overdose Secret
Jamie Otis, from 'Married at First Sight,' was brought to tears as her husband, Doug Hehner, finally opens up about his past opioid overdose, which occurred two years prior to their 2014 wedding
Married at First Sight alum Doug Hehner recently revealed to his wife, Jamie Otis, a significant event from nearly 12 years ago: his overdose on opioids. This revelation came during a podcast recording, which often turns into a therapeutic session for the couple. In an emotional Instagram video, Otis, 37, explained that a listener's review mentioning the loss of a sibling to drugs prompted Doug to share about his near-death experience due to drug addiction, a story that Jamie was previously unaware of.
Otis, who married Hehner in 2014 on the first season of "Married at First Sight," became emotional as she recounted the conversation they had on their podcast "Hot Marriage Cool Parents."
"I always had a feeling that my husband was keeping something from me, although I wasn't sure what it was," Otis wrote in the caption of her Instagram post. "During the holidays, I was with his family and they mentioned that Doug would share the information when he was ready. I asked Doug what they were referring to, but he didn't offer any explanation. I felt like an outsider, unaware of a secret that no one wanted to share with me, and it hurt."
Doug Hehner and Jamie Otis MediaPunch/Shutterstock
Otis continued, stating that she was unaware of the real reason her husband was hiding, as he felt ashamed and guilty. She also mentioned that his family had been protecting him. Over the past ten years, her husband finally opened up to her and shared everything. Otis expressed her admiration for her husband's journey, stating that he is no longer concealing his struggles, but instead, he is liberated and genuinely happy. This revelation took place on the July 26th episode of their podcast, where Hehner discussed his battle with addiction.
“There was a time when my sister had to wake me up because she heard me coughing in my sleep,” he shared. “I don’t think I ever mentioned this incident to you, Jamie. It was quite distressing. Keeping something like this hidden for so long and avoiding any mention of it has been extremely challenging, as it often feels easier to block out unpleasant memories.”
Courtesy of Jamie Otis/Instagram
Living with his parents at the time, Hehner's sister became concerned when she heard him gurgling in his sleep. When he eventually woke up, he found a police officer and an EMT attending to him. Recalling his experience, he shared that he was unresponsive with shallow breathing and did not wake up immediately.
While en route to the hospital in an ambulance, Hehner saw his parents' faces and couldn't help but break down in tears. Expressing gratitude for being alive, he reflected on how close he came to not making it. He admitted that he hadn't thought about it in quite some time.
Otis interjected, acknowledging that even after being married for "nine and a half years," she had yet to fully comprehend the extent of Doug's hardships. Despite this, she expressed her unwavering support for her spouse and emphasized that his personal journey was not something to be ashamed of, as addiction is recognized as a disease.
Hehner, who is currently in a state of sobriety, revealed in the latest episode that he is halfway through the process of gradually reducing his dependence on Suboxone, a prescription medication prescribed to help adults overcome opioid addiction.
For free and confidential information 24/7 regarding substance abuse issues, call the National Helpline of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-4357.
