While the world dreams of achieving fame like some of the renowned celebrities around the world, this very fame has been the reason for many of their downfalls, especially when it comes to addiction. Everyone is fighting their own personal battle that we have no clue about, as evidenced by the many celebrities who have come forward to share their experiences and struggles.
Here are some of the biggest stars on the planet who have been honest about their struggle with addiction to the world.
Matthew Perry
The star from the iconic tv show, Friends has had a long and hard battle with alcohol and prescription drug use. In his recently released memoir, Friends, Lovers, And The Big Terrible Thing, the actor spoke about how he almost died a few years ago due to the overuse of opioids. His addiction started while he was filming the show in the late ‘90s and the early ‘00s. The 17 Again actor got addicted to prescription drugs after a watercraft accident and soon found himself spiraling down the road of drug abuse. Since then, he has been vocal about his addiction and has focused on recovering with the help of family, friends and medical professionals.
Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore grew up in the limelight. After making her debut in the iconic movie, E.T. at the young age of 6, the fame got to her in a negative way. She began drinking at 9, which soon followed by using marijuana and cocaine, that then led her to go rehab at just 13. The Never Been Kissed star spent most of her teenage years trying to recover and overcome her addiction and now she is not only sober, but is also one of the biggest actors and producers with a great career.
Demi Lovato
A Disney star kid that found fame immediately after making her debut, Demi Lovato struggled with it for the longest time. The more popular she got, the more it started affecting her mental health which then led her to trying cocaine for the very first time at 17. In 2010, Lovato disclosed that she was suffering from alcohol and drug addiction and has been working towards getting treated. The actor-singer soon relapsed in 2018 and almost overdosed by taking cocaine and heroin laced with fentanyl. After almost losing her life, she vowed to remain sober and live a good healthy life.
Robert Downey Jr.
Before he became the most beloved superhero of our generation, Robert Downey Jr. had a troublesome youth that was filled with drug abuse. After going to jail in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s for consuming cocaine and heroin, he worked towards getting better in a state-run rehab facility in California. Soon in 2002, the actor shared that he was sober and has recovered and that soon was the turning point in his life.
Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck has always been honest and open with his fans about his addiction to alcohol. The actor first went to rehab in 2001 but could never really stay clean. After a long struggle, he managed to recover in 2018 and shared on social media, “If you have a problem, getting help is a sign of courage, not weakness or failure.”
Daniel Radcliffe
As the lead in the globally beloved Harry Potter series, Daniel Radcliffe was one of the most popular child actor of his time. After making his debut in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the instant fame turned out to be more damaging than good. He shared that he often drank a lot during filming the last three Harry Potter films but soon realised how toxic it was for him. After wrapping up the shooting of Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows 2, the actor focused on recovering and quitting excessive drinking.
Addiction is a serious medical issue. If you or your loved ones suffer from alcohol or drug addiction, please get in touch with a medical professional to seek help.
