The late Glee star Cory Monteith said he was "lucky to be alive" after battling drug addiction and alcohol abuse during his teens.

"I'm lucky on so many counts -- I'm lucky to be alive," the Victoria, British Columbia native told Parade in June 2011, admitting that he indulged in "anything and everything, as much as possible.

"I had a serious problem."

Monteith, who played the role of Finn Hudson on the Fox hit, even admitted his was a cautionary tale, saying the odds were against him when he dropped out of school at 16.