Celebrities aren’t immune to addiction, in fact, there have been multiple celebrities that have succumbed to their addiction or overdosed. We often hear about celebrities who have spent a life addicted to drugs or alcohol and died from their addiction affecting their body or overdosing. We think of Kurt Cobain, Amy Whinehouse, Whitney Houston, Jimi Hendrix, and countless more. Addiction isn’t always a death sentence. Many people, including celebrities in recovery, can find solace in recovery and can change their lives.
Celebrities in Recovery
You’ve heard it, they’re just like us. Except for the endless flow of money and infinite access to drugs.
These 10 celebrities were addicted to drugs or alcohol or both, but are now in recovery. They’re open about their recovery in order to inspire others to
1. Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore shocked the nation when she declared at just 13 years old that she was an addict. The girl who was in E.T. at 6 years old had developed a habit quite young.
She was in the drug and alcohol scene since she was only 9 years old! Drew Barrymore said she used alcohol, then marijuana, and cocaine.
She entered rehab as a young teenager and has been sober since.
2. Robert Downey Jr.
This star, known for The Avengers and Iron Man was arrested many times for alcohol, cocaine, and heroin.
As a child, Robert Downey Jr. said he was surrounded by drugs and suffered from addiction for most of his young life. He did stints in jail and rehab in 2002 and has been in recovery since.
Rober Downey Jr. had quite a resurgence of a career after he became sober.
3. Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato is no stranger to addiction and mental health struggles.
Demi was hospitalized for an overdose in 2018, but since has been working on her recovery.
This star has overcome so much in recent years and we are rooting her on to continue her sober journey!
4. Jamie Lee Curtis
After a minor plastic surgery in 1989, Jamie Lee Curtis became addicted to opioids.
She hid her addiction from family and friends, saying no one knew, not even her husband. Jamie Lee Curtis started the recovery process in 1999 when she went to her first recovery meeting, and has been sober since.
5. Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton is one of the best guitarists of all time, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t suffer from drug addiction.
He developed a heroin addiction in the seventies, became sober from heroin, but still continued to abuse cocaine and alcohol until completing his treatment in 1987.
Eric Clapton has helped others in recovery and even opened his own treatment center. He remains an advocate for mental health.
6. Eminem
Marshall Mathers, best known by his stage name Eminem, has admitted to a life of strife with drugs and alcohol.
If you’re familiar with his music, you can get a sense of the life he led and the hand he was dealt, as well as the choices he has made. He openly talks about his addiction and struggles, especially seen in two of his albums even being appropriately named “Recovery” and “Relapse”.
He overdosed on Vicodin in 2007 and shortly after began the journey to being sober. He has celebrated over a decade sober.
7. Elton John
Elton John spent most of the 1970s and 1980s dedicated to cocaine. He claims it took him out of his comfort zone and he was able to overcome shyness, but then eventually led him to isolation.
Elton John turned his life around, continued to dedicate his life to music and the charity he founded, The AIDS Foundation. He says that treatment was one of the best decisions he has ever made.
8. Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper played an addict in A Star is Born, and he wasn’t a stranger to the concept of addiction and recovery. For many years Bradley Cooper partied too hard and used alcohol and drugs.
He has been sober since 2004 at the age of 29, but he suspected that if he continued to use alcohol and drugs as he was, he would go down a bad path.
And as one of the leading men in Hollywood, we’re glad he chose the path he did.
9. Edie Falco
It’s Nurse Jackie! Her on-screen performance was not far removed from her real-life experiences.
Edie Falco has been sober for over twenty years, but her portrayal of Nurse Jackie has brought her not-so sober days back to life. She found the show to be reassuring and reinforcement that she was on the right path.
Edie Falco says that her path to recovery has been challenging but that life has become more fulfilling and that it hasn’t ever been fuller.
10. Daniel Radcliffe
To deal with the hard life of being a child star, Daniel Radcliffe turned to alcohol during the Harry Potter movies.
Daniel Radcliffe was shot off into fame and fortune with the Harry Potter Series. To cope with the pressures of young stardom and eventually, the series ending Daniel abused alcohol.
He felt watched, and judged. Daniel Radcliffe said that the alcohol helped him forget that.
His friends and family helped him with recovery and continue to support him with his sobriety.
Are You Struggling With Addiction?
Do you want to be on the path of recovery like these inspiring celebrities above? They too were at a point in their lives where they felt helpless, alone, and like they couldn’t get things under control.
The road to recovery can be incredibly challenging, and it can be especially hard to start the process. The good news is that you don’t have to do this alone.
We can help you get there, start the process today! Contact us at SOBA, a New Jersey Drug Rehab and Mental Health Treatment Center for advice today. Recovery starts here.