Audrina Patridge opens up about 15-year-old niece Sadie's heartbreaking fentanyl death - admitting she used to sob in the shower to hide her pain from family - as she issues grave warning about 'predator' drug dealers who target kids on social media

Audrina Patridge has opened up about her 15-year-old niece's heartbreaking fentanyl death, revealing that the 'tough' passing left her so devastated she failed to 'stay on top of her own health.'

The Hills alum, 38, tragically lost her niece Sadie Raine Loza in February 2023 after the teenager took a pain killer that was laced with fentanyl.

Now, the actress has spoken out how the devastating loss impacted her and her family during a recent appearance on Rachel Bilson and Olivia Allen's Broad Ideas podcast.

'Last year when it happened I just let myself go, I didn't really care about working out or staying on top of my health,' she recalled.

Audrina Patridge has opened up about her 15-year-old niece's heartbreaking fentanyl death, revealing that the 'tough' passing left her so devastated she failed to 'stay on top of her health'

 The Hills alum, 38, tragically lost her niece Sadie Raine Loza in February 2023 after the teenager took a pain killer that was laced with fentanyl

Now, the actress has spoken out how the devastating loss impacted her and her family during a recent appearance on Richel Bilson and Olivia Allen's Broad Ideas podcast 

'It was just a lot of healing and processing and just trying to be there for my family.'

Audrina explained that her sister and Sadie's mom Casey Loza, 37, stayed with her for 'a few months' following the shock passing - as well as her two sons - and while taking care of them helped her 'stay busy,' she admitted that it forced her to have to keep her own devastation inside. 

'I was just helping everyone and that helped me stay busy. But then there were moments where I didn't want them to see me crying,' she continued. 

But she added, 'My crying time was in the shower, I'd just get it out in the shower.

'It's tough and everybody heals differently. It really affected me, last year was just bad all around in so many ways. I'm glad it's a new year, fresh start.'

Audrina credited 'therapy' and 'going to church' with helping her to heal.

'I'm just trying to be more positive about it now,' she said. 'It's really about just moving forward and trying to bring awareness and make parents aware.

'And we still celebrate her and tell stories about her. We still go to the cemetery and bring flowers all the time. We're not just going to forget about her because she's not here physically.'

The star also revealed how the tragic death affected her daughter, Kirra, seven, and she said the youngster is now terrified that Audrina is going to leave and 'not come back' one day.

'Last year when it happened I just let myself go, I didn't really care about working out or staying on top of my health,' Audrina recalled

Audrina explained that her sister and Sadie's mom Casey Loza (seen together in 2019), 37, stayed with her for 'a few months' following the shock passing - as well as her two sons

And while taking care of them helped her 'stay busy,' she admitted that it forced her to have to keep her own devastation inside. Casey is seen with her daughter before her death

'Ever since Sadie died, every time I leave... even when I drop Kira at school, she's like, "What if you don't come back?"' she shared.

'Every day when I drop her at school I [have to give her] a kiss on the lips and on the head and a big hug - we have to do that every single day and if we don't do it she cries at school.'

She said her daughter 'knew a little bit' about death because her pastor at the 'private Christian school' she attends had spoken about the subject to her class.

But she admitted that Kirra still 'had a lot of questions' after Sadie's passing. 

'I was trying to be honest but vague, you know? I don't want her to be scared but now she kind of has this trauma of [always wondering], what if you don't come back?' she revealed.

While reflecting on the death, Audrina explained that Sadie had met the person who sold her the laced pill on Snapchat.

'[These dealers] are like predators that prey on these high school kids and give them these menus [of different kinds of drugs],' she revealed. 'It's everywhere, I feel like that generation is being targeted.'

Audrina said she believes the problem stems from social media, adding, 'Social media is making kids depressed or not feel good enough with all the filters.

'It's not Snapchat or social media's fault entirely, it's no one's fault. It's just how life is progressing right now. 

'But no one's ever dealt with this before so we don't know who to blame or how to save our kids or what to do to make changes.'

As for her advice to others, she recommended taking the extra time to 'be a part of your kids' lives.' 

Audrina credited 'therapy' and 'going to church' with helping her to heal, adding, 'I'm trying to be more positive about it. It's really about just moving forward and trying to bring awareness'

While reflecting on the death, Audrina explained that Sadie (seen) had met the person who sold her the laced pill on Snapchat

Audrina said she believes the problem stems from social media, adding, 'Social media is making kids depressed or not feel good enough with all the filters. Sadie is seen

During an appearance on America's Most Wanted in January, Audrina, joined by her sister, said Sadie had sought out Percocet to deal with back pain after she was involved in a car accident 

'See what they're up to - if they play Roblox, learn how to play it. See what they're doing on there and what they're talking about so you could have something in common with them,' she suggested.

Following Sadie's death last year, Audrina shared a touching tribute to the teen.

'My heart hurts to even write this. My beautiful niece is now in heaven,' she wrote at the time on Instagram.

'I know its not goodbye forever, but it is the hardest to say goodbye for now. We will miss you and cherish every single moment we had with you.'

Months later, TMZ reported that Sadie had died of a drug overdose and that police were looking for who may have supplied the narcotics which killed her.

During an appearance on the Fox series America's Most Wanted in January, Audrina, joined by her sister, explained that Sadie had sought out the Percocet to deal with back pain after she was involved in a car accident.

The death came amid a nationwide crisis over fentanyl - a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroine.

It is often added to drugs like cocaine or heroin to increase their potency or make them more profitable - which can lead to overdose, especially if the buyer doesn't know that their drug has been laced.

According to DrugAbuseStatstics.org, less than 0.07 ounces of fentanyl causes certain death, and the drug is a factor in 53 per cent of drug overdoses.