In the 1980s, Charlie Sheen was one of Hollywood’s most famous young stars. While his popularity ebbed and flowed in the following decades, he’s known as one of the most notorious celebrities who went to rehab thanks to his very public meltdown in 2011. He lost his high-paying TV gig on “Two and a Half Men,” and he’s working on his recovery today.
The willingness of celebrities in recovery to highlight their struggles is important in helping normalize the disease. It’s a reminder to us all that drug abuse and alcoholism can be conquered. The actor Heath Ledger died in 2008 of a toxic combination of six prescription drugs. His death came shortly after starring in “The Dark Knight,” a role which won him a posthumous Academy Award for best supporting actor at the 2009 Oscars.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s Recent Birthday Reportedly Proved He’s Already Taken This Major Step With Vittoria Ceretti
Rising to fame in an era where drugs were the rave found Elton John battling with an addiction. As depicted in his biopic, Rocketman, the iconic singer was abusing alcohol and cocaine during the height of his fame to overcome confidence issues. Hollywood icon Jamie Lee Curtis knows about the dangers of opioids firsthand. She struggled with an addiction to these dangerous drugs for more than 17 years. Like so many others, Curtis became addicted to the euphoria that these powerful prescriptions provide after she was given them to help relieve pain after a medical procedure.
- At this point, you’re probably wondering why celebrities on cocaine are more common than celebrities on heroin.
- At Rosglas Recovery, we have specialized dual diagnosis therapy programs with an integrated approach to treat both conditions simultaneously.
- The model and actress says turning 40 inspired her to come forward with her story of addiction and recovery in hopes of helping others.
- “Baywatch” boy David Hasselhoff began struggling with alcohol in the early 1970s.
- Since then, she has found a substance-free lifestyle, enjoying success as an actress, talk show host, and producer.
The actor spent years addicted to marijuana, alcohol and cocaine and his drug habits were so bad that he once had a stroke after overdosing on cocaine. Shortly after filming for his iconic role as the Joker in The Dark Knight, Heath Ledger passed away from an overdose of painkillers, sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medication and other prescription drugs. He may be known for his iconic movie roles in comedies and romances, but on his way to success, Bradley Cooper also struggled with the use of alcohol and drugs. His addiction was so bad, that he’d even once deliberately bashed his head on a concrete floor and had thoughts of suicide.
John Belushi
The following table outlines the death of notable celebrities and athletes who have had drugs or alcohol implicated in their deaths. Elizabeth Taylor, one of the great actresses of Hollywood’s Golden Age, struggled with drug and alcohol dependency for years. At age 16, actor Charlie Sheen was arrested for marijuana possession on his mom’s birthday. “Full House” actress Mary-Kate Olsen suffered with anorexia and a related cocaine addiction that led her to rehab. Acting coach Kevin McDermott, who began training Pettiet when he was 12 years old, remembered him in a touching memorial as “one of the finest actors” he had worked with.
And for her, one of the biggest regrets was that she had “handed over my power to a man.” This power imbalance when it comes to sexes and addiction isn’t uncommon. And in fact, it’s just one of the many reasons why it can be so helpful to check into a recovery program catered specifically to treating women. Another one on our list of celebrities who died from drug overdose is Layne Staley, lead vocalist of the What is a Halfway House? What to Expect in Halfway Housing Seattle-based rock band Alice in Chains. The cause of death was determined to be an overdose of heroin and cocaine. Staley had a long history of drug addiction and had struggled with the issue for many years. Now that you’ve looked at some statistics and read about the struggles of successful alcoholics and celebrities in recovery, do you feel better prepared to deal with addiction and mental health issues?
Actors We Lost Too Young To Drug Overdoses
RósGlas Recovery provides bespoke individualised one-on-one therapy retreats for addiction issues and emotional health concerns in the comfort of luxurious accommodation and private surroundings in Ireland. RósGlas Recovery provides boutique luxury therapy retreatsfor addictions and psychological issues located in beautiful and luxurious settings in Irish countryside. Another reason for cocaine’s popularity is its potency and duration of effects. Smoking or injecting cocaine produces a more intense but even shorter period of euphoria. Many cocaine users take frequent doses to maintain the desired effects, putting themselves at risk of overdose. 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.
- Yet, celebrities with addiction often find that their careers have taken a toll.
- No longer on the drug, she said she now “eats normally” and hasn’t put the weight back on.
- “We’re not talking about stars who need to lose 10 lbs. We’re talking about people who are dying of obesity, are going to die of obesity.”
- From prodigies like River Phoenix and Brad Renfro to pop culture fixtures like Marilyn Monroe and Heath Ledger, many stars have left behind blazing legacies after their untimely deaths.
- Throughout his ongoing wrongful death lawsuit, it was revealed that Michael was a “quite extensive” drug addict during the last 15 years of his life.
- There’s an almost endless list of famous alcoholics, just as there are regular people in society who have problems with alcohol.
The Los Angeles Times reported that he had been clean in the days leading up to his death. His body was discovered at his apartment in Los Angeles by his girlfriend, per People. Tributes poured in from Hollywood, with Renfro’s first co-star Susan Sarandon calling him the “most incredibly gifted young actor.” In addition to commercials for Fotomat and Wrigley, she had multiple roles for television and film before finding big success in “Diff’rent Strokes” in 1978. While on the show as a teenager, Plato got into drugs and alcohol, even overdosing at the young age of 14 (per USA Today).
Co-Occurring Addiction and Mental Health Issues in Celebrities
As her singing career took off, so did her problems with drugs and alcohol. In 2010, she first sought treatment for addiction, along with mental health issues including bipolar and eating disorders. She has addressed her ongoing recovery in interviews, on social media, and in her music.
At Rosglas Recovery, we have specialized dual diagnosis therapy programs with an integrated approach to treat both conditions simultaneously. As many celebrities in recovery and successful people who have overcome drug addiction will tell you, getting treatment for both disorders is critical to lasting recovery. Thrust into the spotlight from the time he could walk, Corey Feldman starred in several top-grossing movies in the ’80s before he reached adulthood. Childhood abuse, neglect, and young fame likely played a role in his addiction. Today, he aims to highlight child abuse in the entertainment industry and help others with similar struggles. Drew Barrymore made headlines when she announced her struggle with addiction at just 13 years old.
Some of the biggest names in entertainment, especially rock stars, have died of a drug overdose. Jimi Hendrix, singer Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison are among a few rockers who bit the big one early. Heath Ledger did as well, and wasn’t alive to see that he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in The Dark Knight. Drew Barrymore is hands-down, the youngest star to have ever entered rehab. At the age of six took a toll on the star and steered her to drinking by the age of 9. By 13, she was already addicted to coke and marijuana, which is when she decided that she needed serious help.
The cause of death was determined to be an accidental overdose of prescription medications, including painkillers, sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety medication. Among famous alcoholics, Ghost star Demi Moore is also one of the many celebrities who went to rehab, have relapsed, and are still struggling with their addiction even today. In her book Inside Out, Moore details her addiction to alcohol, Vicodin, cocaine, and codependency to her third ex-husband Ashton Kutcher. In 1997, https://en.forexpamm.info/mortality-and-life-expectancy-of-people-with/ Allen Iverson received a charge for marijuana possession and then turned to community service as a way out of drug abuse or addiction. The NFL’s Ricky Williams, infamous for his marijuana infatuation, has been busted four times in the past decade for violating substance abuse policy and has a stoner reputation. Midfielder soccer star Diego Maradona struggled with a twenty-year cocaine addiction, leading to three suspensions and multiple failed drug tests during his career.