Yesterday, we discussed how Zac Efron’s people confirmed that he had gone to rehab nearly five months ago and how he managed to keep the rehab stay hidden. In the initial reports, it definitely sounded like Zac had a problem with alcohol, but TMZ quickly came out and claimed that Zac had a big cocaine problem, likely in addition to alcohol abuse, and that he “dabbled in Molly.” TMZ claimed that Zac “spiraled out of control” while working with Seth Rogen on Neighbors back in April and “It was common knowledge he was struggling with cocaine.” There was also a story about a coke binge (with friends) in Las Vegas. Now TMZ reports that Zac’s cocaine problem was so bad, he had to go to rehab twice:

Zac Efron has done rehab for cocaine addiction not once this year, but twice, after a major relapse … TMZ has learned.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ … Zac has been doing cocaine for more than 2 years — he was also into Molly. He tried to clean himself up in March by getting professional help. We’re told he left California and stayed in a private residence where he received intensive outpatient care for several weeks.

In April he returned to L.A. and began shooting Seth Rogen’s film “Neighbors.” During the shoot Zac relapsed in a big way. TMZ broke the story … Zac was not showing up on the set and it was common knowledge he was using again.

Our sources say after the film wrapped up he got a second dose of outpatient care.

As for how Zac plunged into the depths of coke, we’re told there are 4 reasons:

— Zac has significant issues with his parents, who are still trying to control his life and decision-making.

— Zac is upset about his movie career, which was once white hot but after “High School Musical” he hasn’t had real success.

— Zac has “girl issues” … although we’re told it has nothing to do with his break-up with Vanessa Hudgens. That, our sources say, is ancient history for both.

— Zac had been hanging around with “a bad group of friends” who introduced him to the world of cocaine. We’re told Zac has 86’d most of them from his life in the last few months.

[From TMZ]

So now the story is that Zac went to rehab in March, came out to work on a film and he relapsed in a “major way” and then had to go get treatment again after the film wrapped. But Zac and his team are still trying to massage the story, authorizing People Mag to write a friendlier, more sympathetic piece in which it sounds like Zac just fell under the spell of coked-out friends:

Zac Efron seemed to have it all. After he shot to fame at age 17 after starring as squeaky-clean basketball star Troy Bolton on Disney Channel’s High School Musical franchise, it appeared the heartthrob had avoided the pitfalls of youthful stardom.

But after it was revealed Monday that Efron, now 25, had checked into rehab earlier this year, sources tell PEOPLE the seemingly straight-arrow actor – who has never run into trouble with the law and has a sterling reputation as a professional on set – partied much harder than his public image let on.

“He surrounds himself with a group that enjoys partying,” an Efron insider tells PEOPLE. “He got caught up in the partying lifestyle the past few years.”

Says another source who has socialized with Efron: “Like most people at clubs, he liked to drink and have a good time. He definitely liked to party.”

Just a year ago, the California native – who grew up in a non-Hollywood family (his father is an electrical engineer and his mother a secretary) – told PEOPLE he avoided going down the wrong path by “appreciat[ing] the work I’ve done.”

“The stakes are very high,” he said at the time. “I care too much about those around me and everything I’ve worked for to just go out and blow it. It’s just a personal integrity.” While acknowledging he does “like to have fun,” the actor pointed out that “some people can handle it and some people can’t.”

Though he was struggling in private, several nightlife sources say he didn’t appear out of control while clubbing and in fact tried to keep a low profile.

“He would make sure that his friends surrounded him and was clearly concerned with his privacy … almost to a paranoid level,” says one insider who has seen him frequently at L.A. hotspot Bootsy Bellows drinking vodka soda. Efron also often turned up at after-hours parties at friends’ homes, sources say.

[From People]

“He would make sure that his friends surrounded him and was clearly concerned with his privacy … almost to a paranoid level.” How shocking that someone with a coke problem would be paranoid, right? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I feel for Zac and I guess he deserves a slow clap for not harming anyone but himself and for keeping his shenanigans relatively low-key (on a scale of “Not Lohan” to “Lohan”). I’m glad he got help and I’m glad that it seems like he’s taking his recovery seriously. But I’m uncomfortable with the way his addiction is being blamed on enablers and “friends”. The first step is taking responsibility for your addiction, correct?

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.