Aside from her fame as Princess Leia in “Star Wars,” Carrie Fisher was also known for bringing awareness to drug and alcohol addiction by opening up about her battle with substances and recovery. While complicated and chronic, alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a condition that can be treated. Below are 15 famous people who struggled with alcohol addiction and found recovery. She often spoke and wrote about her experiences with drug and alcohol use disorder and recovery, as well as her bipolar disorder. Fisher died in 2016 at age 60 after going into famous people who died from alcohol cardiac arrest on a trans-Atlantic flight. The model and actress says turning 40 inspired her to come forward with her story of addiction and recovery in hopes of helping others.
- Given that Del Rey’s songs are full of references to drugs and alcohol, it’s hard to think of her as a person who is battling to maintain her sobriety.
- Eminem opened up about his addictions in a 2022 essay for XXL magazine, saying that drugs became “a part of the way I was living my life” once he got signed to a record label.
- The actor has since turned his life around, expressing how professional treatment changed his life and helped him mend relationships impacted by years of alcohol misuse.
- Discover the reasons people may become codependent and learn effective strategies for recovery.
- In the book, she writes how she used alcohol as a coping mechanism and how drinking worsened those deep-seated issues.
Celebrity Recovery Stories
Their candor about their own battles with addiction provides a powerful message of hope and resilience. This section addresses common inquiries regarding celebrities who have faced and conquered addictions, providing insights into their recovery journeys and subsequent sobriety maintenance. While historical media portrayals have contributed to a stigma, contemporary discussion seeks to reframe addiction as a public health issue rather than a moral failing. The narrative is shifting towards a more compassionate view of addiction, as illustrated in discussions around the evidence for stigma change. There’s a growing recognition that addiction can affect anyone, regardless of status, and recovery is an achievable goal.
Olivia Munn began randomly drug testing John Mulaney while 6 months pregnant
His contributions extend to a broader conversation about mental health and recovery within the entertainment industry, elevating him as a prominent advocate for those facing similar struggles. Cara Delevingne’s resolute choice to prioritize her mental health and overall well-being has paved the way for a more balanced and grounded life. Consistently using her platform to initiate conversations about mental health issues, she endeavors to destigmatize discussions surrounding mental health and addiction, symbolizing hope for countless individuals. His recent professional roles and public appearances reveal a man who has evolved as an actor and matured personally. Harington’s story serves as a poignant reminder that, even amid the overwhelming glare of fame, personal struggles can be confronted and surmounted, leading to a life imbued with greater depth and fulfillment.
Indispensable Steps of Recovery from Addiction
And having an addiction and not knowing as a man what to do in a male-dominated society that puts worth and high value on emotions of alpha behaviour and pack mentalities and such. Her story also highlights the risks of fans (and even doctors) enabling addictions, as three of her former physicians were reprimanded for reckless prescribing. His story emphasizes the need to be aware of the perils of drug misuse and the importance of seeking assistance, no matter how high functioning you may seem to outside observers. Her very public partying with stars such as John Belushi, Dan Akroyd, and others gave a glamorous appearance to a struggle she described as anything but.
- Each celebrity’s path to sobriety is unique and fraught with individual challenges, yet their shared experience creates a blueprint for others.
- King immediately sought help and quit all forms of drugs and alcohol in the late 1980s.
- But it also showcases the power of honesty and community, as Shepard found renewed strength in the outpouring of support.
- Following a relapse in 2018, they initially tried a “California sober” approach, but ultimately found that true sobriety was the only way forward.
- Through interviews and her music, Miley Cyrus delves into the intricate facets of identity, growth, and the challenges she has confronted.
She first tried cocaine at the age of 12 and had a suicide attempt at 14 that marked a turning point for her. Today, Elton John has transformed from a cocaine and alcohol addict to a sober and philanthropic icon, inspiring many people across the globe. His story is a testament to the potential for complete life changes, showing that seeking help and starting a path to recovery can happen at any stage. Robert Downey Jr.’s early career was marked by a tumultuous battle with alcohol and drug addiction.
How do celebrities maintain sobriety after public struggles with addiction?
Rumer Willis never picked a drink back up after starting dry January several years ago. Model Naomi Campbell struggled with addiction after her colleague and friend, Versace founder Gianni Versace, was murdered in 1997. “But I’ve learned it truly is just one day at a time and I just want to tell you guys the truth because I never, ever want to lie to you,” she added. “I had to find a different way to be in the world,” Urban told the Sunday Times in April 2022.
- Dutch post-impressionist painter known for his bold use of color and expressive brushwork is also one of the famous people with alcoholism and manic depression.
- Celebrities often experience a marked improvement in their professional lives following recovery.
- The journey of battling addiction and emerging triumphantly is a narrative woven with personal struggle, continual growth, and, ultimately, victory.
- “It doesn’t matter what walk of life — addiction and alcoholism doesn’t discriminate,” she said at the Fortune Most Powerful Women International Summit in 2017.
A Comprehensive Look at the History of Drugs
“It was to suffocate the anxiety and what my life was going to become with this condition and getting so numb I didn’t think about it,” he said. “It was the only tool I had at the time, so I believed that would quell a lot of that angst. A lot of that fear. And it only made it worse.” Quaid opened up about his cocaine addiction in an interview with The Sunday Times in 2018. “I quit drinking like six years ago, so I don’t have the liquid courage. I just have dry courage.”
- “It’s never one specific thing. I mean, you’re in your 20s, single, going through life in Hollywood, you know? Everything is thrown at you.”
- Although the actor claims to have never drunk on set, he also admits to binge drinking the nights before filming.
- Despite encountering a relapse after completing the program, Taylor didn’t let her struggles define her.
- Public figures such as Robert Downey Jr. have spoken about their extensive work in recovery programs.
- He stopped drinking for 10 years while kicking his drug addiction but later got back into alcohol.
Anyone who has been impacted by addiction knows that the disease does not discriminate and that even those who are blessed with fame and fortune are not immune. And, just like millions of Americans, many talented performers and athletes are living healthy, productive lives in recovery. Jamie Lee Curtis’s story is a testament to the transformative power of recovery. Even amidst a successful acting career, she struggled with a Vicodin addiction for years.
The experience led her down a challenging path, but Curtis didn’t let her addiction control her life. Addiction does not discriminate; it can affect anyone, regardless of their social status or fame. Celebrities, despite their public personas and sometimes seemingly perfect lives, are not immune to the struggles of addiction, not by a long stretch.
