From the outside looking in, the life of a celebrity seems to be one of glamor and prestige. From the lavish lifestyle and A-list friends to blockbuster movie premieres and magazine covers, celebrities seem to have the picture perfect life–however, all that glitters isn’t always gold. The immense pressure that stardom brings can be too much to bear for some in the spotlight, and they may turn to drugs and alcohol in order to cope with their fame and success. Unfortunately, we often hear stories of celebrities out of control and sadly losing their battle with substance abuse.
While there are those sad stories, there are also stories of celebrities who have faced their addiction head on and have become clean and sober. Many sober celebrities have gone on to greater fame and success in recovery and have become role models for others who are struggling with drugs and alcohol. The following are six examples of celebrities in Southern California that you may see in the rooms of 12-step meetings.
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. is perhaps one of the most well-known celebrities who has successfully overcome his drug addiction. A gifted actor, Downey was of the “Brat Pack” who won rave reviews for such early films as Less Than Zero and his Oscar-nominated role in the biopic Chaplin. Downey was also known for his drug and alcohol abuse and his reckless behavior. In and out of jail throughout the 1990’s, he was effectively blacklisted in Hollywood. However, he began is road to redemption in the early 2000’s and in late 2005 he went to treatment and has been in recovery ever since.
Bradley Cooper
The star of The Hangover and Silver Linings Playbook has been in recovery for over a decade and had made the decision to become sober before his acting career blossomed. He began to attract attention after his role in Wedding Crashers, but felt that his personal life was starting to spiral out of control. He had revealed in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter how he willfully smashed his head against the concrete at a party and wound up in the hospital. Soon after attending rehab, his movie career took off and he approached his celebrity with clarity and purpose.
Sir Anthony Hopkins
Perhaps best known for his role as Hannibal Lecter in the blockbuster movie Silence of the Lambs, what fans may not know is that Hopkins is a long-time recovering alcoholic. He began drinking during the 1960’s when his acting career was on the rise. By the mid 1970’s, his drinking has spiraled out of control. With the urging of a casting agent, he attended his first AA meeting in late 1975 and has stayed sober to this day.
Danny Trejo
The star of movies such as Machete and Desperado, Danny Trejo has been clean and sober for 47 years . He made his decision to get sober in his mid 20’s after being released from prison. After finding recovery, he became a drug counselor before turning to acting. Trejo has appeared in at least five major movies every year, and his incredible story is the subject of a new AARP documentary.
Demi Lovato
Children who grow up in the public spotlight often struggle with the pressures and expectations of fame, and Demi Lovato is a prime example. Struggling with growing up in a dysfunctional family, she had well-publicized struggles with both substance abuse and bipolar disorder. Five years ago, she checked herself into a drug rehab facility and has remained clean and sober to the present day. In her recovery, Lovato is very outspoken about her struggles with addiction and mental illness and as become a spokesperson for a variety of recovery organizations.
Eric Clapton
Iconic guitarist and songwriter Eric Clapton had struggled with heroin addiction and later alcoholism before getting clean and sober for good in 1987. Clapton has also been a tireless advocate for raising awareness for addiction treatment. He has organized and performed in his Crossroads Guitar Festival which raises money for the Crossroads Center, which is a non-profit drug treatment center located on the Caribbean island of Antigua. To date, these concerts have raised nearly $20 million.
Addiction Affects Everybody
It doesn’t matter your background, family history or socioeconomic status, drug and alcohol addiction affects all people. If you are struggling with substance abuse and need help, First Steps Recovery can provide you the services and personal care you need to make your recovery a reality. We offer a wide range of drug treatment programming that is effective, proven to work and backed by intensive scientific research. Our experienced staff will work with you every step of your treatment journey and implement an individualized plan of recovery that will perfectly fit your unique and specific needs. Call First Steps Recovery toll-free today and create your own success story.
