Tara Conner, the reigning Miss USA who nearly lost her crown over charges of underage drinking and other inappropriate behavior, said this week that she has had problems with alcohol since her teens and also has used cocaine, Reuters reported Jan. 31.

Conner, 21, who went into rehab last month after her partying exploits hit the tabloids, said she has "the disease of alcoholism and addiction" and said it was a relief to be able to speak openly about her problems, including cocaine use. "It gets it off my chest ... At first I held back on it a little bit. But there is no sense in it," she said.

Conner recently ended a 31-day treatment program and moved into a New York apartment. She now has a chaperone to watch over her as she continues her Miss USA duties. Conner said on NBC's "Today" show that she plans to use her position to educate the public about addiction and recovery.