Celebrities Who have been Open about their Addiction Struggles

Here are some celebrities who have been open about their addiction struggles:

• Demi Lovato – The singer and actress has been open about struggling with an eating disorder, self-harm, cocaine and alcohol addiction. She has gone to rehab multiple times and said in 2018 that she identifies as an addict in recovery.
• Robert Downey Jr. – The actor struggled for years with drug and alcohol addiction before getting sober in the early 2000s. He has said that getting help and embracing a 12-step program saved his life and career.
• Eminem – The rapper has opened up about his struggles with addiction to prescription drugs like Vicodin and Valium since the early 2000s. His recovery journey has been well-documented through his music.
• Russell Brand – The British comedian and actor has been open about his addiction to heroin, alcohol and sex. He has been in recovery since 2002 and is an advocate for 12-step programs.
• Drew Barrymore – Barrymore struggled with drug and alcohol addiction as a young teen actress. She went to rehab at the age of 13 and has been sober since she was 14 years old.
• Elizabeth Hurley – The British actress has spoken publicly about how her addiction to sleeping pills almost cost her, her acting career. She has now been sober for over 20 years.

Related: 5 Action Steps for Quitting an Addiction

Robert Downey Jr.

• He used drugs at a young age, before he was a teenager
• He spent much of his early career under the influence of drugs and alcohol
• He had several arrests in the late 90s and early 2000s related to drug use
• He struggled with cocaine and heroin addiction in addition to alcohol misuse
• He spent time in prison and rehab in California
• In 2002, he announced that he was in recovery
• His career revived with the 2008 Marvel movie Iron Man
• His role as Iron Man helped revive his acting career after years of struggling with substance use disorder.

Demi Lovato

• She started acting as a child on family shows like Barney & Friends
• She says she first tried cocaine at age 17 while working on one of these TV shows
• Her singing career took off in her late teenage years and early 20s
• She has struggled with addiction to drugs, alcohol, and eating disorders since her teen years
• She first sought treatment for substance abuse and mental health issues in 2010 at age 18
• She has been very open about her ongoing recovery journey in interviews, on social media, and through her music

Demi Lovato has been incredibly courageous and candid about her struggles with addiction, self-harm, eating disorders and bipolar disorder in an effort to help destigmatize mental health issues. Though she has had some relapses over the years, she continues to work on her recovery and uses her platform to help others.

Ben Affleck

• Ben Affleck is an Oscar winning actor and director who has starred in films like Good Will Hunting, Argo, and the DC Comics Batman movies
• He has been open about struggling with alcoholism
• He first went to rehab for alcohol addiction in 2001
• He has described addiction as a “lifelong and difficult struggle”
• He went to another treatment center for alcohol issues in 2018
• After his treatment in 2018, he posted a message on social media saying that seeking help for addiction is a sign of courage, not weakness

Ben Affleck‘s openness about his alcoholism issues and his path to recovery helps fight stigmas around addiction and shows that even successful people can struggle with substance use disorder. His recent social media post encouraged others struggling to get the help they need.

Drew Barrymore

• Drew Barrymore first went to rehab at age 13 in 1989, announcing publicly that she was an addict
• She is from a famous acting family (the Barrymores) and began acting as a young child with E.T. at age 6
• She says she started drinking alcohol at age 9 and then progressed to marijuana and cocaine by her early teens
• She spent her teenage years struggling with addiction and trying to overcome her child stardom
• As an adult, Drew Barrymore has enjoyed success as an actress and film producer

Drew Barrymore is one of the earliest examples of a celebrity going public about childhood addiction struggles. Her candidness about issues like underage drinking and substance abuse helped bring more awareness and reduce stigma.

Though she entered rehab at a young age and has been sober since age 14, Drew Barrymore’s story shows how even children from privileged backgrounds can develop addiction issues. It highlights the importance of talking openly about the dangers of substance use, even at young ages.

Eminem

• Eminem has been very open about his battle with addiction to prescription drugs like Vicodin and Valium which started in the early 2000s.
• His addiction issues are well documented through his music, with many of his songs referencing his struggles with pills and substance abuse.
• Eminem has battled with addiction throughout his career, though he says he has been sober for periods of time.
• In 2007 and 2008, Eminem went to rehab for addiction treatment and said in interviews that he was committed to staying sober. However, he has admitted to relapsing at times.
• Eminem’s recovery journey has been an ongoing process, with many ups and downs. But he has served as an inspiration for others struggling with addiction through his honesty and openness in his music.
• Eminem has credited his daughter and support from his friends and fans as helping keep him motivated to continue to fight his addiction and stay sober.

His music has also helped raise awareness of addiction as a disease and helped break down stigmas.

Related: 10 Most Common Addictions in The US

Russell Brand

• Russell Brand has been very open about his past addiction to heroin, alcohol and sex.
• He struggled with addiction from his teenage years into his 20s before finally getting sober in 2002 at the age of 27.
• Brand has said that heroin addiction completely took over his life for years and he ended up homeless and close to death before finally deciding to get help.
• He eventually entered a 12-step recovery program and credits that with finally helping him achieve long-term sobriety.
• Brand has been sober now for over 15 years and is a strong advocate for 12-step programs to treat addiction.
• He frequently speaks out about the dangers of addiction and encourages others who are struggling to seek help.
• Brand has said that spirituality and his work as a comedian and actor have helped him maintain his sobriety over the years.

In summary, Russell Brand’s ongoing battle with addiction, which included near-fatal heroin abuse, and his eventual road to long-term recovery serves as an inspiration for others who struggle. His openness about his past issues with addiction and advocacy for treatment options like 12-step programs helps fight stigma and shows that people can find hope and healing through recovery.

Brand’s story demonstrates that with the right support system, tools and mindset, even severe addiction is treatable and long-term sobriety is possible.

Elizabeth Hurley

• Elizabeth Hurley has been open about her past addiction to prescription sleeping pills.
• She has said that her substance abuse issue almost cost her her acting career in the early 2000s.
• Hurley struggled with insomnia for years and was prescribed various sleeping pills which she eventually became dependent on and abused.
• At the height of her addiction, Hurley was taking up to 20-30 pills a day and says she was in a “zombified state” for months.
• In 2003, Hurley decided to go cold turkey and quit the pills, going through intense withdrawal at home with the help of her sister.
• Hurley has now been sober from prescription pill addiction for over 15 years.
• She has spoken out about her journey to raise awareness of addiction issues and remove stigma around seeking treatment.
• Hurley says that meditation, exercise and holistic medicine have helped manage her insomnia in a healthy way and maintain her sobriety.