We’ve all seen the headlines, “The Downward Spiral of So and So” or “So and So Fell Off The Wagon”. The media loves (and I mean loves) to announce to the public when celebrities are not doing so well, but you do not hear as many stories of celebrities triumphing their battles with addiction.
T here are many celebrities in recovery who have been open about their struggles with drugs and alcohol.
The first people who come to mind may be Russell Brand, Robert Downy Jr., Demi Lovato, or Macklemore.
These celebrities have done many interviews discussing their troubles with substance abuse and addiction. Most have acted as advocates for recovery in order to encourage their fans to seek help if they too have the disease of addiction.
#6 Blake Lively
First coming on the scene back in the early 2000s as one of the main characters on Gossip Girl, Blake Lively has never appeared in the headlines for being a drug addict or alcoholic. If you think about it, you have probably not read many negative articles about the American sweetheart.
Lively has told the press that she has no interest in drinking alcohol, and that she has never even tried any illegal drug in her life. She puts her full efforts into her husband, (Ryan Reynolds- if you did not know) her children, and her successful career in acting. You may be curious as to why she lives a life clean and sober, there are probably a number of reasons behind it, but that is not something she is willing to discuss with the drama-craving press of Hollywood. Either way, we are proud of you Blake, keep up the good work of abstaining from these deadly substances.
#5 Tom Hardy
His first stand out role was on “Black Hawk Down” in 2001, but it hasn’t been until more recent years that this A-lister has captured the hearts of women across our nation. The London born actor has always been open about the addiction issues he has faced in his past.
At a young age, Hardy struggled with crack cocaine and alcoholism. He has told the story of waking up on the Soho streets covered in his own vomit and blood from the night before. That was the turning point in his life where he chose to get into an addiction treatment center. He also has told the press at first he did not want to go his entire life sober, but thought it would be a temporary fix.
Now that it has been 14 years later and he is still clean and sober, he knows he made the right decision of starting a new life in recovery. A few years ago, TheFix.com did an interview with Harvey about his struggles, and also dove into how he is giving back to this cause that he feels so strongly about.
#4 Rob Lowe
In recent years, Rob Lowe has been a familiar face we see on “Park’s and Recreation”, but did you know that two years ago the 53 year old celebrated 25 years sober? What an accomplishment! At that time, he had spent almost half of his life working the 12-steps AA. He went into rehab in 1990 and embraced his new life with open arms.
Lowe has raved about recovery from his social media accounts expressing how #grateful he was to have a chance at a new life freed from the chains of addiction. In interviews, Lowe expresses how he did not want to seek treatment in the beginning, but he needed to know the science behind the disease.
He says that knowing about the drugs in depthly, and how they affect your body was crucial to his specific recovery. Lowe worked the 12-steps and has been successful in his journey through recovery because of the work he has put in.
“I’m proud of people who have the determination and the fearlessness to actually go and face their demons and get better. This is a life or death situation.”
#3 Gerard Butler
He is clean and sober! We know him as the attractive, rough around the edges, Hollywood star, but did you know that he is also in recovery? It all started when he injured his back on the set of “Shattered” back in 2007, and there was his introduction to pain killers (opioids). He struggled over the length of five years with pain pills after reinjuring his back a number of times. He goes on to tell the press that even when he finally entered rehabilitation services in 2011 he was already starting to lower his doses of the pain medications.
He also has stated that he has not had a drink in close to 20 years. We already know him as being a pretty tough guy, but this ices the cake. He was able to overcome his addictions and continue to be a lead action hero type of actor in his recent films.
#2 Eva Mendes
Guys across America go crazy over this Cuban-American bombshell (sort of the way women love Tom Hardy). Did you ever know that she too is a friend of Bill? Mendez is not in the headlines too often for any sort of dramatic reasons, (her headlines typically consist of a spot on the hottest women of Hollywood list- or something of that nature).
“I’m proud of people who have the determination and the fearlessness to actually go and face their demons and get better. This is a life or death situation.”
Mendes has said she is not ashamed of her recovery, nor ashamed of the fact that she struggled with addiction in her past. The Latin beauty also said she does not wish to be associated with any specific treatment centers nor is promoting anything by telling her story. She said recovery was the life saving answer for her and leaves it at that.
#1 Eminem
After struggling with substance abuse and dependence for years, Eminem has been sober for 9 years. During the peak of his active addiction, he said he was taking up to 60 Valium and 30 Vicodin pills a day.
Marshall Mathers first checked into a drug rehabilitation center in 2007, and struggled with staying sober over the next year, with having a relapse. Eminem in a number of interviews since his struggle with addiction has informed the public that working out and getting healthy has been the biggest form of relapse prevention in his life. Since 2008 he has maintained his sobriety and taking a look at his health led him to find a new love, running. Eminem has stated that he runs up to 17 miles per day to get back into (and now stay in) shape, and the energy released by exercise is a rewarding and natural “high”.
As you can see in all of these cases, addiction affects those in all walks of life, all over the world, whether you are a celebrity, or the girl next door. The only way to successfully battle against your addiction is through a proper drug and alcohol treatment center.
At Banyan Treatment Center we focus on healing your body from the inside out. Our clinicians are here to treat the mind, body, and soul. We believe in providing growth through your whole recovery process, from detox to aftercare. At Banyan Treatment Center, we are here to help. If you or someone you know is suffering from this deadly disease, the time to get help was yesterday.
Call us anytime, we are here to help: (888) 422-1651.
Get the help you need today at Banyan Boca Raton.
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