130 Americans die every day from an overdose related to Opioids and 1.7 million Americans have a diagnosable addiction to prescription Opioids (like hydrocodone or OxyContin). Celebrities are human and their journey to recovery can be just as tough. Below are celebrities who have overcome Opioid addiction and live sober.
Robert Downey Jr.
The Iron Man actor was introduced to drugs by his dad at 6 years old. He remembers trying everything in the years that followed, from mixing alcohol with amphetamines and heroin. After many failed attempts at sobriety and in and out of jail and rehab, Downey checked himself into rehab in 2001. It took 6 years of sobriety and working to regain the trust of studio heads before he was cast in Iron Man in 2007.
August Alsina
August Alsina grew up with drug addicted parents. He saw the damage cocaine did to his family but didn’t see the destruction of prescription painkillers until it was too late. After being hospitalized for exhaustion (where he was in a coma for 3 days and died twice), his doctor prescribed him Percocet for pain. After a heartfelt phone call from a longtime friend, he decided to get help.
Eminem
Before Eminem released Recovery, an album about his addiction to prescription drugs, the rapper had severe opioid and benzodiazepine addictions. What started with misusing Vicodin to feel “mellow” grew into a cocktail of prescriptions, including Valium and Xanax. He credits his love for his daughter Hailie Scott Mathers (23) for his recovery and sobriety.
Macklemore
Before Macklemore became famous with “Thrift Shop”, he was drinking alone in his parents’ house at 13 years old. In his 20s he became addicted to OxyContin – he even called it “synthetic heroin”. When his addiction started to destroy his relationships and the music career he wanted to have, he went to rehab. Since then he’s been a vocal advocate for the recovery community. He worked with Ryan Lewis and President Barack Obama to release the documentary Prescription for Change: Ending America’s Opioid Crisis in 2016.
Nicole Richie
Party girl daughter of Lionel Richie, socialite and tv star Nicole Richie was arrested for heroin possession and DUI. While she’s no longer besties with Paris Hilton, the 36 year old fashion designer and mom believes it’s important to be honest with her kids about her addiction and recovery. At Asana Recovery we see the struggle to recover from these addictions daily in our work. Some may think they can do it on their own but rehabilitation programs are key to breaking the cycle.
The road ahead won’t be easy but you can do it with the right team. Counseling and aftercare can help you by addressing the underlying issues that led you to addiction and help you build a structure to live life without addiction. Call us at (949)-763-3440 to learn more about our drug and alcohol addiction treatment program today.