(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino has opened up about his substance abuse issues that landed him in rehab earlier this year.

The Jersey Shore star is recovering from addiction and told MTV News about his ordeal.

Mike returns for season six of the reality show but it will not be the party boy on display as in previous episodes.

"Ever since I've been out, I'm not going to lie, it hasn't been easy," Mike said. "But right now I'm in a good place."

"It took a lot to get here. In the beginning there were a lot of rainy days.

"My addiction was prescription painkillers. At first, I thought it gave me energy, helped me. Being in this business is not easy. I made a mistake by picking a substance over what I previously chose, which is fitness."

Mike added that his problem was never with alcohol or cocaine abuse as it would have affected his dating life.

"I was the guy that was the ladies man. You can't get girls if you can't speak to them," he laughed. "Drinking was never an issue for me." (C) Cover Media