A new unauthorized biography of Tom Petty, Petty: The Biography, claims that the singer was addicted to heroin in the 1990s.

The book's author, Warren Zanes, told reporters that Petty was reluctant to talk about his addiction for the book.

"The first thing he said to me on the subject is 'I am very concerned that talking about this is putting a bad example out there for young people.

If anyone is going to think heroin is an option because they know my story of using heroin, I can't do this,'" said Zanes.

"He's a rock and roller," Zanes added. "He had had encounters with people who did heroin, and he hit a point in his life when he did not know what to do with the pain he was feeling."

Petty: The Biography is in stores November 10.