Here are 10 celebrities who once fell for a drug but found the strength to rise above and beyond it— 11 Former Addicts Turned Box Office Stars.
Yesterday, I went for a long walk through the city. As I passed by people, I began wondering what they were like at home. Did they drink? Were they addicted to painkillers? Had they experienced the pains and blessings of recovery? I looked at their clothing, hands, teeth, and eyes for signs of some hidden addictions, but it isn’t always obvious. We often picture drug addicts like the people displayed on the meth billboards around town, but many are beautiful and even successful people. Drugs can enter the life of anyone; just take a look at the people on TV. From your neighbor to celebrities, illegal drugs can consume a life, but an addiction can be also be overcome by anyone. Here are 10 celebrities who once fell for a drug but found the strength to rise above and beyond it.
1. Oprah Winfrey
I don’t think I even need to mention the success Winfrey has had; it is no secret that she is a powerful woman with a huge heart and a résumé that could fill a book. It does surprise many, though, that at one point in her life, she used crack cocaine heavily with her boyfriend. It wasn’t until the relationship ended that she was able to get back on her feet and away from a horrid influence.
2. Craig Robinson
You probably know Robinson as Darryl from “The Office,” but that charming face masks a scary record. Robinson was arrested in 2008 for possession of Ecstasy, meth, and cocaine. It was the arrest that led to his recovery, so he could live a clearer life.
3. Drew Barrymore
Her story is a heartbreaking one, with her first drink of alcohol at the young age of nine. At 10, she was smoking pot, and by 12, she was using cocaine. She entered rehab the next year and began her goal of living a healthy, balanced life. Her career has always been successful, but now, she doesn’t allow drugs to control her life.
4. Alec Baldwin
Alcohol, video games, and drugs consumed Baldwin’s life during his 20s, and it wasn’t until he realized his actions were out of the ordinary that he got help. On his 27th birthday, he joined a support group and got himself clean. He has made a career of acting and never looked back on his addiction.
5. Robert Downey Jr.
One of the most famous people to overcome addiction is Robert Downey Jr. He was arrested for drug possession numerous times, but in 2001, that would all change. He kicked his addiction to the curb with the help of a loving wife, yoga, and kung fu. He now reflects back on his past as a reminder of how much he has grown and as a way to fuel his future.
6. Jamie Lee Curtis
A surgical procedure at the age of 35 was the downfall for Curtis. She quickly became addicted to painkillers and alcohol to ease loneliness and feelings of sadness. It didn’t take long for Curtis to get help, and in 2010, she celebrated 10 years of sobriety. Recovery is something she never takes for granted, and she attributes it to her happy, successful, and wonderful life.
7. Kelly Osbourne
At 17, Kelly Osbourne began taking Vicodin pills by the handful. She tried quitting numerous times, but she never believed in herself. In 2009, she returned to rehab, and after 30 days, she left feeling confident and filled with happiness and gratitude for a second chance at life.
8. Robin Williams
In the 1980s, Williams partied his life away with alcohol and cocaine. He wasn’t ready to get help until John Belushi, a comedian friend, overdosed. It gave him the motivation to change his life around so he could be there to raise his children. Williams has stared in countless movies and been an incredible example for the people around him.
9. Nicole Richie
After being arrested for possession of heroin, Richie went to rehab in 2003. She could have placed blame on the Hollywood world, but she accepts the consequences for her actions. It was the loving support around her that helped her overcome her drug addiction and claim a happy clean life for the past few years.
10. Elton John
Elton John began using cocaine in 1974 as a way to fit in. It soon consumed his life, and he suffered many years with depression, an eating disorder, and addiction. Once he got clean in 1990, he was able to feel happy again and a sense of peace.
11. Steven Tyler
Cocaine and heroin come at a high price, and Steven Tyler claims to have spent more than $20 million on his addiction. In 1986, his band set up an intervention that led to Tyler’s first rehab experience. In 2009, he returned for a different addiction, but has spent the past few years living a clean life.
https://www.flickr.com/photo.gne?short=k686E Photo by Alan Light (Flickr)