5 Celebrities who have Struggled with Addiction

It’s tempting to judge celebrities more harshly for their struggles with drug abuse and recovery because of their success. When it comes down to it, celebrities have the same problems as everyone else. What can make the life of a celebrity harder is that much of what they do comes under public scrutiny. With people watching your every move, the stress of looking and acting a certain way can become a burden that is difficult to manage. 

Many celebrities turn to substance abuse as a way to manage their anxiety. Keeping in mind that even those who we put on a pedestal struggle with everyday issues that are not dissimilar from our own is a helpful reminder that there are difficult aspects in everyone’s life no matter what. Celebrity recovery stories are inspirational reminders that the perseverance to get clean and stay sober can lead to a lasting successful career and meaningful life.  

5 Celebrities who have Struggled with Addiction

Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr. is one of the most famous and inspirational recovery stories. Downey spent a large amount of his early career under the influence and had many high-profile arrests. The public watched him publicly go to rehab again and again. Downey’s addiction began when he was young and his decision to undergo detox and successfully complete a rehab program gave him the opportunity to have an award-winning career. Since becoming sober, Downey has displayed his incredible acting ability in such films as Good Night and Good Luck and continues to inspire millions with his transformation into Iron Man. Downey continues to credit sobriety for his ability to have a successful career. 

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore, with her girl-next-door looks and affable personality, is a good reminder that addiction can be a problem for anyone. Barrymore was a child actor who started her career at the age of 7. This led her to get involved in the LA party scene at the troublingly young age of 11. By middle school, she needed an intervention and entered a rehab program. Barrymore would end up in rehab, again, later in life, which is an important reminder that sobriety is a lifelong pursuit.  

David Duchovny 

Maybe it’s not altogether surprising that the teen heartthrob turned X-Files cult hero would lead a rollercoaster lifestyle. If you watch Duchovny’s performance in the tv series Californication you’ll find that art was reflecting aspects of the actor’s real life. In 2008, Duchovny publicly announced that he was voluntarily entering rehab for sex addiction. This is notable, in part, because sex addiction is a disorder that is considered embarrassing and shameful for many and it’s a testament to Duchovny’s strength and character that he was willing to own his personal circumstances and address the situation under the public’s eye. 

Mischa Barton

Mischa Barton is best known for her performance as Marissa Cooper on The O.C. which ran from 2003-2007. The star’s 20s became tumultuous as she started to engage in heavy binge drinking and drug abuse. While working on The O.C., Barton was involuntarily held under psychiatric evaluation after engaging in worrisome behavior that caused others to have concerns about her personal safety. In 2007, she was arrested for a DUI. 

The pressures of stardom and expectations to succeed led Barton to have many insecurities about her body and performance. It’s no big surprise that being in the limelight has its downsides. This is a good reminder that, famous or not, everyone struggles with their own personal demons and we should give them the benefit of the doubt before casting judgment. 

Stephen King

One of the most famous writers of our time has admitted that he does not remember writing entire books (for example, Cujo) as, at the time, he was battling extreme addiction. In his book, On Writing, King discusses the number of beers he was putting back in a day as well as a long-time problem with cocaine abuse. His family staged an intervention in the 1980s and King has been able to stay on a better path and continue his wildly successful career. 

Everybody Hurts

It doesn’t matter if you’re a celebrity or not, everyone struggles with difficulties particular to their life circumstances. If you or someone you know is battling addiction and needs help, we encourage you to reach out to us at Oasis Recovery to speak with a specialist about our personalized programs and services designed to provide individualized help for lasting recovery.