25 Celebrities Who Have Struggled With And Overcome Substance Abuse

One of the most famous figures in rock, Slash also used to be one of the most prolific drug users in the music business. However, due to his 2001 congestive heart failure diagnosis and encouragement from his wife, this former Guns n’ Roses guitarist was able to give up the habit.

While filming the hit show “Friends”, Jennifer struggled with chain smoking. However, in 2007 she decided to give up her vice by taking an intense detox and now uses exercise to stay free from nicotine.

He was so addicted to heroin that in one of his performances, Clapton passed out and had to be revived. Eventually Pete Townshend, “The Who” guitarist, convinced Clapton to give up his addiction and establish the Crossroads center for drug and alcohol treatment.

Although she smoked as a teenager she decided to break the habit in adulthood. The decision came after the paparazzi snapped photos of her smoking while pregnant. This coupled with the fear of passing the habit onto her children, convinced her to quit.

From the age of 15, the famous host of The Daily Show struggled with a smoking addiction. He was encouraged to finally kick the habit by the CGL Foundation and since 2000, Stewart has been smoke free.

Known as one of the co-founders of the platinum selling metal band Korn, Brian Welch once found himself embroiled in a world of money and drugs. At the height of his career, he got addicted to several substances and vices, including alcohol, sleeping pills and Xanax. When he became a Christian in 2005, he decided to cleanse himself of these addictions.

Known for being an inspiration to many people around the world, Oprah Winfrey once admitted that she used crack cocaine in the 80’s. Nobody knows how long the addiction lasted, but one thing is for sure: Oprah Winfrey has long moved past it.

A long time smoker, he decided to quit when he saw a picture of himself smoking and realized how awful he looked. In fact, he allegedly even convinced his good friend Ben Affleck to quit as well.

Eminem was able to get rid of his drug addiction through the help of Elton John, a friend he met in 2001 who eventually convinced him to kick the habit.

The lead singer of popular rock band Aerosmith struggled with drug use when he was in high school. In one of his interviews, he admitted that his addiction resulted in struggles in class, difficulty coping with success and poor relationships. He was convinced by his band mates to go to rehab in 1986.

The son of Sunil Dutt developed a teenage drug addiction after his mother passed away from cancer and in 1982, was incarcerated for five months for the illegal possession of drugs. He was sent to a rehab center in the United States by his father in which he was able to overcome his addiction.

Robert Downey Jr. currently known as Iron Man once battled a massive drug addiction. He was so addicted, that he was considered a liability and as such, was passed over for roles. Good thing that he was able to get clean after going to a rehab.

Samuel Jackson had struggled with some serious drug addiction. In fact, he got overdosed on heroin several times and was sent to a New York rehab more than once but ended up escaping. He considered his cocaine addict role in Jungle Fever cathartic, because that was what made him realize how dangerous his habit was, consequently inspiring him to quit.

Widely remembered for his role in the sitcom Two and a Half Men, Charlie Sheen used to be a drug user as well. His addiction jeopardized the show and resulted in one of his co-actors being fired. Nevertheless, Sheen did seek help and according to sources has remained clean.

Angelina Jolie once admitted that she did about every drug possible. However, when she got engaged to Brad Pitt and had six children, the actress decided to clean up her act.

Part of The Rolling Stones, Keith Richards is dubbed the “pirate junkie.” Apparently he has no regrets about his being a substance addict before. In fact, according to him, his being an addict helped him write some of his greatest hits of all time. However, he has given up all his hard drugs and currently only smokes marijuana.

Ozzy and his fellow band mates dealt with substance abuse during the peak of their career. However, due to the seriousness of his addiction, Osbourne was fired by his band (which led him to use even more drugs). Eventually, he cleaned up his act, stopped drinking, and gave up drugs.

Although her struggles with alcohol and drugs have been widely publicized she went to rehab and sources says she has remained clean. It’s a good thing too since she is the mother of two.

Like Britney Spears, Demi Lovato is also one of those younger celebrities who battled several sorts of addictions. She went to rehab in 2010 for three months to treat her self-harm issues as well as her addiction to alcohol and various drugs. Now, Demi Lovato is living a healthier life with her family.

When Chaka Khan first signed with Warner Bros., she started using heroin and cocaine. She was addicted to both substances for nearly a decade, but after receiving a warning from singer Etta James, she decided to quit and become sober.

Kid Cudi got arrested in 2010 for drug possession. At that time, he was a heavy marijuana user (which influenced a lot of his songs). However, in 2011 he decided to clean himself up; a decision that was forever memorialized on his wrist with a tattoo symbolizing the death of his old drug addict self.

When she was 17, Kelly Osbourne became addicted to Vicodin. She was so addicted to the drug that she took up to as many as 50 pills a day. She went to rehab and in 2009 was finally able to get clean.

Nicole was once addicted to heroin, pills and marijuana. In 2003, she got arrested for illegal possession of heroin and in 2007, for being under the influence of Vicodin and marijuana. Now, the singer has completely turned her life around, is married, and is a mother of two.

Though Drew Barrymore is known for playing the role of a good girl, she actually has had a bad history of drug and alcohol addiction. At the tender age of 11, she was a heavy smoker and was addicted to alcohol. Fortunately, she has been able to overcome her habits and according to sources, has remained sober.

While filming the Harry Potter films, Daniel Radcliffe was dealing with serious alcohol abuse (an event that could have seriously jeopardized his image and his acting career). Thankfully, he has “kicked” the habit and now lives a “quiet, non-Hollywood lifestyle”.