One of the most prominent celebrities with addiction, Bradley Cooper’s problems started in his 20s after moving to Los Angeles. Due to low self-esteem issues, the actor started using alcohol and drugs, specifically cocaine, as coping mechanisms. Following an accident in 1997, Matthew Perry was prescribed opioids for pain management, and this prescription marked the start of his long-term battle with drug addiction. At one point, the famous “Friends” actor point was consuming up to 55 pills per day while filming his hit TV show.
Trace Cyrus calls out brother Braison for insisting dad Billy Ray is ‘healthy’ after family concern: ‘Man up’
- Lovato has openly discussed their battle with alcohol use disorder, emphasising the challenges of overcoming addiction when it becomes a deeply ingrained part of one’s life.
- Robert Downey Jr.’s tumultuous journey with alcoholism and addiction is one of Hollywood’s most well-documented and inspiring comeback stories.
- But when it comes to celebrities with addiction, accomplished, affluent men are far more affected.
- The novel’s protagonist, Jack Torrance, is a recovering alcoholic and writer who becomes the winter caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel.
- Living under the microscope of public scrutiny, he turned to drinking as a way to cope with the pressures of fame.
Clapton recovered, but he continued misusing alcohol and cocaine for years. In 1998, he built the Crossroads Centre for alcohol and drug treatment on the Caribbean island of Antigua. “12 and a half years ago I was in active addiction,” the “Stranger Things” star wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, in July 2022. “Hurting myself and those around me who I loved the most. It got so bad that eventually I ended up in a hospital for mental health. I am now 7 1/2 years clean and sober.”
Celebrities Who Struggled With Alcoholism and Found Recovery
RósGlas Recovery provides boutique luxury therapy retreatsfor addictions and psychological issues located in beautiful and luxurious settings in Irish countryside. Studies have found that disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are significantly more common among women than men. Even at a young age, girls are more likely to report dissatisfaction with body weight compared to boys. And there are many wealthy individuals, highly accomplished, who are less well known but have had similar struggles with drinking. From Hollywood A-listers to rock stars to stalwarts of science, alcoholism doesn’t spare anyone.
- One of the most prominent celebrities with addiction, Bradley Cooper’s problems started in his 20s after moving to Los Angeles.
- Bradley Cooper realised that his addiction was not only detrimental to his health and well-being but was also stopping him from achieving his personal and professional dreams.
- “While I honestly STILL don’t know if I’ll never have a drink again, I do know I never want to be that way again. And for now, none is best. I’ll let the bad dreams come up and try to sort them out in therapy, without booze.”
- Danny has extensive experience in effectively treating incidental and complex trauma.
- “You have that one shot and are like, ‘Damn, why did I do that?’ when you get home.”
More Sober Celebrities
“I just loved to get fucked-up — drinking, cocaine, opiates, marijuana, diet pills, pain pills, everything,” he told Playboy. Goodman struggled with alcoholism for years and even drank while filming the original “Roseanne.” At one point, star Roseanne Barr confronted him about it. Tim McGraw quit drinking in 2008 when his family and friends began to worry about him.
Lessons from Celebrities in Recovery
Despite the fame, fortune, and endless leisure time that often comes with celebrity lifestyles, there are a number of famous stars and public figures that suffer from the disease of addiction. True, the massive bankroll of these stars certainly may have exacerbated their issues. It’s important to recognize, though, that even the people “have it all” are just as at risk when it comes to celebrity substance abuse. Names like Charlie Sheen, Amy Winehouse, Courtney Love, and countless others have become synonymous with the relentless abuse of drugs like cocaine, heroin, and alcohol. But other big-name actors and icons have secretly battled their own addiction demons, too.
Aaron Sorkin – Cocaine, Marijuana, Mushrooms
Downey Jr. has since used his platform to advocate for others struggling with addiction, offering hope and highlighting the possibility of redemption and transformation. He’s not just a superhero on screen; to many facing their battles with addiction, he’s a real-life symbol of hope, proving that you can rewrite your story. In deciding to become sober, Bradley Cooper took a definitive step towards reclaiming control of his life. The decision marked a turning point, not just in his health but in his career as well.
Each year in July, celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D looks forward to celebrating another year of sobriety on social media. In a February interview, Daniel Radcliffe, 29, admitted to turning to alcohol to deal with the instant-celebrity status he’d gained as the star of the Harry Potter series. Though he loved his job, the English actor says he shut himself off from the public to escape the constant scrutiny. While he describes his personality as naturally addictive, Radcliffe credits his close friends with helping him to get help and develop new, healthier coping strategies. Ben Affleck, 46, attended rehab twice before he entered alcohol addiction treatment in 2018. Affleck stated he hopes his openness about his illness will inspire others to have the courage to similarly seek proper treatment.
This mental illness is characterized by intense periods of high energy (mania) alternating with deep depression. The emotional instability puts people at very high risk of becoming addicted to drugs. These statistics do not imply that women should become complacent because they are relatively protected against substance use disorders. Women are just as likely as men to develop a dependence on harmful substances.
He spoke often about his battle with addiction, aiming to help others with his own story, up to his death in October 2023. It’s been reported that many of the relationship struggles Affleck has dealt with were related to his battle with alcohol. And when you ask celebrities in recovery, peer pressure almost always features among the reasons they started drinking, doing drugs, or developing mental health issues.
Celebrity Recovery Spotlight: Daniel Radcliffe
- We found that 74% of men in our list of 50 celebrities in recovery had alcohol addiction compared to 47% of women.
- During his time as a therapist, Justin has worked in a residential addiction treatment facility, private practice, and outpatient settings.
- By the time he was filming the sixth Harry Potter film, Radcliffe’s alcohol use had become a nightly habit.
- At the weekend, Australian model Elle MacPherson took to Instagram to celebrate 20 years of sobriety.
- “33 years ago today I found recovery and a tribe that has sustained me on my incredible, grateful journey,” he wrote alongside a selfie of himself swimming.
Brand’s issues with drugs and alcohol began early in his career, impacting his personal life and professional trajectory. His resistance to treatment was initially driven by a mix of denial and the allure of fame. From the outset of his career, Efron had to contend https://northiowatoday.com/2025/01/27/sober-house-rules-what-you-should-know-before-moving-in/ with the demands of his escalating fame and the accessibility of substances in Hollywood. His early encounter with these pressures led to alcohol misuse and substance misuse, including a reliance on prescription painkillers and cocaine addiction, which he openly admitted to in interviews. Efron’s story is a classic example of how child actors can quickly find themselves caught in a cycle of drug and alcohol addiction as a coping mechanism for the stresses of their environment.
“It was the only tool I had at the time, so I believed that would quell Living in a Sober House: Fundamental Rules a lot of that angst. A lot of that fear. And it only made it worse.” “I had one of those white-light experiences where I saw myself being dead and losing everything I had worked for my whole life, so I put myself in rehab,” he said. “Thank you to all the people who have helped me to remain clean. It’s never done on your own.” “There are no holes in the program. It’s so, so simple. I come in, I ask for help. It has totally changed my life.” In 2003, the actor opened up to Playboy about being a recovering alcoholic and going to Alcoholics Anonymous. “Sixteen years ago … I crashed and washed ashore on the banks of sobriety,” he said.
What’s mostly disheartening about Prince’s addiction is that nobody knew he had it. The star concealed his dependency on pain pills for years, with only those closest to him having suspicions of an addiction. Some have gone years without a drink, while others are still fairly new to the process and working hard at it every day. One reason is that women tend to internalize their emotions, leading to loneliness, withdrawal, and depression. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to externalize emotions with impulsive or aggressive behavior and noncompliance. Demi Lovato, Zac Efron, Robert Downey Jr., Lindsay Lohan, Elton John, Drew Barrymore, Charlie Sheen, Nicole Richie, Colin Farrell, and Steven Tyler have all used cocaine.
As depicted in his biopic, Rocketman, the iconic singer was abusing alcohol and cocaine during the height of his fame to overcome confidence issues. We applaud all of these sober celebrities for sharing their stories so others can see that recovery is possible and anyone can conquer alcohol addiction. The HBO series “Game of Thrones” captured the attention of the world, and Kit Harrington, who portrayed Jon Snow on the show, was caught up in the chaos of it all.
