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‘20/20’ anchor Elizabeth Vargas back in rehab

ABC anchor Elizabeth Vargas has entered rehab again as she continues her battle against alcohol addiction.

The “20/20” anchor has confirmed she entered a treatment facility on Saturday after realizing she needed further help to maintain her sobriety while on vacation in California.

Vargas, 51, told Page Six in a statement today, “While on vacation this weekend, I decided to return to a recovery center. As so many other recovering alcoholics know, overcoming the disease can be a long and incredibly difficult process.

“I feel I have let myself, my co-workers and most importantly my family down and for that I am ashamed and sorry. I am committed to battling and addressing this debilitating disease and want to thank everyone who has offered their unwavering support during this trying time.”

Vargas, who sought treatment in a rehab facility last fall, recently signed a new contract with ABC and has the full support of her network chiefs and colleagues as she seeks further treatment.

ABC spokesperson Heather Riley said, “Nothing is more important than Elizabeth’s health and well-being and we stand squarely behind her. Our thoughts are with Elizabeth and her family and we look forward to having her back at ABC News when she feels ready to return.”

Vargas, currently going through a divorce with her husband of 12 years and the father of her two sons, Marc Cohn — who we are told is also being supportive — bravely talked about her battle with alcoholism in an interview with “GMA” co-anchor George Stephanopoulos in January.

Vargas and hubby Marc Cohn in 2012Getty Images

“I am. I am an alcoholic,” she said. “It took me a long time to admit that to myself. It took me a long time to admit it to my family, but I am.

“The amount of energy I expended keeping that secret and keeping this problem hidden from view was exhausting,” Vargas said, adding that she had done hour-long “20/20″ specials on drinking but still could not acknowledge she had a problem.

“Even to admit it to myself was admitting, I thought, that I was a failure,” calling her drinking a “staggering burden” to carry. “You become so isolated with the secret and so lonely, because you can’t tell anyone what’s happening,” she said.

Vargas has battled panic attacks since she was a child. She explained, “I dealt with that anxiety, and with the stress that the anxiety brought by starting to drink. And it slowly escalated and got worse and worse.”

She described how she went to a rehab center for 28 days last year that specializes in treating trauma, then left against doctors’ advice and went home.

“And they said, ‘We think you need to do more work,’” she said. “And I came home for five days and realized they were right, and I went back and finished and stayed until the doctors there said I was ready to come back.

“You know, this isn’t what I want to be known for, but I’m really proud of what I did.”

She added she still finds it hard not to drink, but has a good support system, “I’m part of AA,” she said, referring to the group Alcoholics Anonymous. “I have a sponsor. I have great, great friends who I love and who love me.”