Celebs Who Overcame Addiction
Addiction touches every corner of society, and famous people are no exception. Many have faced substance use disorders in public, entered treatment, and built structured plans to maintain recovery. Their stories include medical care, therapy, peer support, and long term lifestyle changes that are documented through interviews, memoirs, and verified public statements.
This list gathers well known figures who have discussed addiction and recovery in detail. You will see repeated tools and approaches that experts often recommend, including supervised detox, residential treatment, outpatient programs, twelve step groups, evidence based therapy, and sustained routines that support ongoing health.
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. spent the late 1990s and early 2000s moving through arrests, court ordered programs, and multiple treatment stays that addressed entrenched drug use. He returned to consistent work after committing to recovery that combined therapy, peer support, fitness, and daily structure.
He later anchored major film franchises including ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Sherlock Holmes’ while keeping a disciplined routine with nutrition and exercise. In interviews he has described meditation and ongoing support systems as practical tools that help him maintain balance alongside a demanding schedule.
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato has spoken extensively about addiction, relapse, overdose, and subsequent treatment that included in patient care and continuing outpatient support. Their recovery plan has involved medical oversight, therapy, and changes to personal and professional boundaries.
Lovato has released documentaries and performances that chronicle health milestones and setbacks, including ‘Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil’. They have used large platforms to point fans toward crisis resources, treatment hotlines, and education about overdose prevention and recovery options.
Eminem
Eminem entered treatment after severe prescription opioid dependence, including a near fatal overdose that required emergency care and rehabilitation. He began a structured recovery that included professional counseling and a complete break from using environments.
He returned to recording and performance with a focus on sleep, nutrition, and physical training to support sobriety. On stage and in interviews he has credited therapy and consistent routines for helping him keep his career and health on track without substances.
Elton John
Elton John has described years of heavy cocaine use and disordered eating followed by a decision to enter recovery and commit to long term abstinence. He has maintained sobriety for decades and speaks about the importance of accountability and ongoing support.
He founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation and has raised significant funds for treatment and prevention programs. He also uses concerts and public appearances to promote recovery resources and to highlight how sustained care and community can keep people stable over time.
Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore entered rehab as a teenager after early exposure to drugs and alcohol and later rebuilt daily life with therapy and family support. She has maintained a career that allowed for structured routines and boundaries that reinforce recovery.
Her production work and on camera roles in titles such as ‘Charlie’s Angels’ and ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ came alongside open conversations about mental health and substance use. She has pointed viewers to counseling and peer support options that are accessible and affordable.
Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck has completed multiple treatment programs for alcohol use disorder and emphasizes the chronic nature of the condition in public comments. His recovery approach has included inpatient care, outpatient therapy, and extended aftercare.
He has continued acting and directing with projects like ‘Argo’ and ‘The Way Back’. In press tours and interviews he has described relapse prevention planning, family involvement, and therapy as practical tools that help him manage work while protecting sobriety.
Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper stopped using alcohol and drugs in his late twenties and established routines that prioritize sleep, fitness, and consistent work habits. He has credited early career mentors and professional counseling with helping him make the shift.
He went on to star in and direct ‘A Star Is Born’ while maintaining a quiet, steady recovery. He shares that structure, healthy relationships, and ongoing self monitoring remain central parts of his daily life.
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe has discussed periods of heavy drinking during the later ‘Harry Potter’ films and his decision to stop and seek support. He built a recovery plan around abstinence, trusted friends, and professional guidance.
He continued work in theater and film including ‘Kill Your Darlings’ and ‘Swiss Army Man’. Radcliffe speaks about removing triggers, focusing on craft, and maintaining a small circle that supports sober routines during location shoots and press travel.
Zac Efron
Zac Efron completed treatment for substance issues and reorganized his lifestyle with coaching, therapy, and a fitness centered routine. He has maintained work commitments while protecting time for recovery practices.
Efron’s projects include ‘The Greatest Showman’ and the travel series ‘Down to Earth with Zac Efron’. He describes how training schedules, nutrition planning, and careful calendar management help him keep a stable foundation when production demands intensify.
Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe entered treatment for alcohol use disorder in 1990 and has maintained long term sobriety with regular meeting attendance and mentorship. He often notes how early intervention and accountability changed the trajectory of his life.
He continued a steady career with roles in ‘The West Wing’ and ‘Parks and Recreation’. Lowe frequently participates in recovery events and highlights the value of sponsorship, service, and consistent habits for people at every stage of sobriety.
Jamie Lee Curtis
Jamie Lee Curtis developed dependence on prescription painkillers after a medical procedure and sought help in the late 1990s. She has maintained sobriety through meetings, therapy, and family support.
Curtis has used interviews around films like ‘Halloween’ and ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ to discuss recovery openly. She emphasizes safe medication practices, secure storage, and the importance of asking for help early.
Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton struggled with heroin and later alcohol before entering treatment and building a long term recovery program. His approach has included residential rehab, therapy, and ongoing peer support.
He founded Crossroads Centre in Antigua, which provides residential treatment and family programs. Clapton also organizes benefit concerts and shares educational materials that connect people to detox services and continuing care.
Anthony Kiedis
Anthony Kiedis battled heroin addiction for years and documented the journey and recovery in his memoir. He began sustained sobriety after treatment and a complete lifestyle change that included fitness and structured routines.
With the Red Hot Chili Peppers he has continued recording and touring. Kiedis has discussed tour planning that reduces risk, on road wellness protocols, and the value of daily check ins with trusted supporters to maintain recovery while traveling.
Nicole Richie
Nicole Richie has spoken about heroin addiction and later treatment that involved detox and supervised care. She rebuilt daily life with counseling, healthier routines, and a smaller social circle.
She went on to launch fashion lines and appear on television including ‘The Simple Life’ and ‘Great News’. Richie has shared practical advice about scheduling therapy, maintaining boundaries, and organizing work in ways that protect health.
John Mulaney
John Mulaney entered rehab for cocaine and alcohol use and later returned to the stage with a new set that addresses addiction and recovery. He has credited medical teams, family, and friends for helping him stabilize.
He released the stand up special ‘John Mulaney: Baby J’ and resumed touring with careful scheduling. Mulaney points audiences to reputable hotlines and encourages early intervention and honest conversations with clinicians.
Keith Urban
Keith Urban sought help for alcohol and cocaine use and completed inpatient treatment. He has remained active in music while maintaining a recovery plan that includes support meetings and family involvement.
Urban records and tours with systems that emphasize rest and structure. He has publicly thanked those who staged interventions and encourages fans to pursue professional help and continuing aftercare.
Danny Trejo
Danny Trejo survived addiction and incarceration as a young man and got sober through a twelve step program. He has mentored others for decades and often visits treatment centers and recovery meetings.
Trejo built a long screen career with roles in ‘Machete’ and ‘Heat’. He also launched restaurants and community projects, using them to fund scholarships, reentry support, and recovery services in his neighborhood.
Dax Shepard
Dax Shepard achieved long periods of sobriety and later disclosed a relapse related to pain medication after surgery. He immediately sought help, reset accountability measures, and returned to recovery routines.
He hosts ‘Armchair Expert’ and has used episodes to discuss recovery planning, transparency, and safe pain management with medical professionals. Shepard outlines concrete steps like medication logs, third party monitoring, and frequent check ins.
Stephen King
Stephen King has described severe alcohol and drug use during the early part of his career and a family led intervention that moved him into sobriety. He maintained abstinence with sustained counseling and strict work habits.
King continued publishing while keeping a consistent writing schedule that supports health. He speaks about removing substances from the home, building accountability, and using professional care to reinforce recovery.
Kelly Osbourne
Kelly Osbourne has documented multiple treatment stays for prescription drugs and alcohol and the gradual progress that followed. She credits structured programs, therapy, and supportive relationships for helping her stay on track.
Osbourne has worked in television including ‘The Osbournes’ and ‘Fashion Police’. She speaks about relapse warning signs, the value of aftercare, and planning travel and work commitments around health needs.
Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us which stories you think help the most by pointing people toward real treatment and recovery resources.