April is Alcohol Awareness Month: Celebrities in Recovery

It’s not surprising that so many of the celebrities we know and love struggle with alcohol addiction. However, many of them have decided to embrace recovery. At Focus Integrative Centers, we know how difficult that choice is, but it’s also very rewarding. Let’s take a look at some of these incredible stories. 

Billy Joel

Following 9/11, Billy Joel found himself struggling with depression. To cope, he turned to alcohol as a way to self-medicate. 

A couple of stints in rehab weren’t enough to get Billy to stop drinking altogether. However, he does admit that they gave him the tools he needed to manage his alcohol consumption more appropriately. 

In 2013, he reported that his alcohol intake was down to just one glass of wine with his dinner. It wasn’t until 10 years later that Billy Joel was finally able to say he was completely sober. 

“I stopped drinking a couple of years ago. It wasn’t a big AA kick. I just got to a point where I’d had enough. I didn’t enjoy being completely inebriated, and it probably created more problems in my life than I needed.” 

~Billy Joel

Russell Brand

Russell Brand began using alcohol and drugs early on in his life as a form of self-medication. He was diagnosed with ADHD and Bipolar Personality Disorder at the age of 11. He also struggled with purging behaviors. 

By 2002, Russell had already been arrested several times. He realized that his life was really headed nowhere. 

“First I had to accept that there was a problem—that was blessedly evident with drink and drugs: I was miserable, becoming physically sick, getting hospitalized and arrested. The people that loved me were afraid that I was going to die. It was clear that something had to change, but I couldn’t see an alternative.” 

~Russell Brand

Today, Russell has found the peace he sought during his younger years through a newfound relationship with God. He has become a very outspoken Christian who encourages others to recover. 

Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt is certainly among Hollywood’s elite, and many don’t realize how much he struggled with alcohol addiction. He was - essentially - the textbook definition of a functioning alcoholic. 

Brad’s addiction to alcohol had become normalized for him by the time he and his former wife, Angelina Jolie, divorced in 2016. It took another year for him to admit to himself that he had a problem with alcohol. 

Brad credits his friend and fellow actor, Bradley Cooper, as being instrumental in his ability to stop drinking. He also attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, went to therapy, and joined a private men’s group to receive support. 

April is Alcohol Awareness Month: Make Today Your Day One

There is no better time than the present to begin the process of recovering from alcohol addiction. At Focus Integrative Centers, we have the tools you need to start your recovery journey and remain in it. 

Because April is Alcohol Awareness Month, this is the perfect time to make the decision to get sober. You’re not alone and we’re here to give you all the support you’ll need. 

Contact us today to talk with a professional. You can also call us at (865) 622-7116. 

 

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