Clean and Sober Celebrities Infographic

CELEBRITIES IN RECOVERY THEN You hear about celebrities when they get in trouble, get arrested, get drunk or overdose. What about NOW celebrities who have struggled with addiction and made it through? Find inspiration in some success stories. Whoopi Goldberg American Actress THEN Goldberg has said she was "young, homeless, and addicted to heroin." She was heavily into drugs until she got scared and stopped. NOW Oscar and Golden Globe winner, co-founder of Comic Relief, TV talk show host. "/ was a functioning drug addict. I went to work because I knew if I didn't show up, a lot of people would be out of work and I wouldn't get a check and I wouldn't have the lifestyle that I needed to buy all my drugs." Drew Barrymore American Actress THEN NOW Child star Barrymore began smoking and drinking at age 9, moved to cocaine by age 12, rehab at 13. Golden Globe winning actress, producer, director. "The mistakes, the potholes, the journeys, the bad patterns -- all of it is so much clearer to me now..." Robert Downey Jr. American Actor THEN Addicted to alcohol, heroin, crack and cocaine. Served prison time 1996-2001 for drug use, possession and probation violations. NOW Golden globe winner, Oscar-nominated actor. "..I took my drugs after work and on the weekends," he later explained. "Maybe l'd turn up hungover on the set..." Kristen Johnston American Actress THEN Spent years addicted to drugs and alcohol that led to near-fatal ulcer perforation. NOW Emmy Award winning actress, known for work on TV, stage and screen; author of addiction memoir Guts. "It's just a weird disease that sneaks up on you and all of a sudden you're boozing at the bar, or whatever. And it doesn't have to be because of you or pressure or this-or-that. It just can be." Nicole Richie Television Personality THEN Using marijuana and cocaine by age 14. At 19, she was injecting heroin. Arrested several times for possession and being under the influence. NOW Fashion designer, actress, celebrity mentor on Fashion Star. "I'm very happy with my life and I wouldn't take back any mistake l've made because it's made me who I am today. I live a very honest life, and l'm happy with the way l'm leading it." Russell Brand English Comedian THEN Took marijuana, alcohol, speed, acid, cocaine, crack and heroin. NOW Actor, radio and television host, subject of documentary From Addiction to Recovery. "You'll take it until it takes your life. It'll take everything until the last thing and you'll gladly give it that rather than give up the drugs." Elton John English Rock Singer-Songwriter THEN Used cocaine and alcohol throughout the 198os. NOW Oscar and Grammy winner, singer, composer, founder of Elton John AIDS Foundation. "/ still dream, twice a week at least, that l've taken cocaine and I have it up my nose," he told NPR's Steve Inskeep. "And it's very vivid and it's very upsetting, but at least it's a wake-up call." Martin Sheen American Actor THEN Alcoholic, had a heart attack at age 36. NOW Multiple Emmy and Golden Globe winner, social and political activist. "/ did what any parent would do in the circumstances. You could not do that and say you loved a child. His life was at stake." Jamie Lee Curtis American Actress THEN Addicted to painkillers and alcohol. NOW Actress, two-time Golden Globe winner, author. "... Talking about the process of addiction is very difficult for a drug addict and an alcoholic. Talking about recovery and hopefulness is much easier for me." RCx Recovery Connection www.recoveryconnection.org CELEBRITIES IN RECOVERY THEN You hear about celebrities when they get in trouble, get arrested, get drunk or overdose. What about NOW celebrities who have struggled with addiction and made it through? Find inspiration in some success stories. Whoopi Goldberg American Actress THEN Goldberg has said she was "young, homeless, and addicted to heroin." She was heavily into drugs until she got scared and stopped. NOW Oscar and Golden Globe winner, co-founder of Comic Relief, TV talk show host. "/ was a functioning drug addict. I went to work because I knew if I didn't show up, a lot of people would be out of work and I wouldn't get a check and I wouldn't have the lifestyle that I needed to buy all my drugs." Drew Barrymore American Actress THEN NOW Child star Barrymore began smoking and drinking at age 9, moved to cocaine by age 12, rehab at 13. Golden Globe winning actress, producer, director. "The mistakes, the potholes, the journeys, the bad patterns -- all of it is so much clearer to me now..." Robert Downey Jr. American Actor THEN Addicted to alcohol, heroin, crack and cocaine. Served prison time 1996-2001 for drug use, possession and probation violations. NOW Golden globe winner, Oscar-nominated actor. "..I took my drugs after work and on the weekends," he later explained. "Maybe l'd turn up hungover on the set..." Kristen Johnston American Actress THEN Spent years addicted to drugs and alcohol that led to near-fatal ulcer perforation. NOW Emmy Award winning actress, known for work on TV, stage and screen; author of addiction memoir Guts. "It's just a weird disease that sneaks up on you and all of a sudden you're boozing at the bar, or whatever. And it doesn't have to be because of you or pressure or this-or-that. It just can be." Nicole Richie Television Personality THEN Using marijuana and cocaine by age 14. At 19, she was injecting heroin. Arrested several times for possession and being under the influence. NOW Fashion designer, actress, celebrity mentor on Fashion Star. "I'm very happy with my life and I wouldn't take back any mistake l've made because it's made me who I am today. I live a very honest life, and l'm happy with the way l'm leading it." Russell Brand English Comedian THEN Took marijuana, alcohol, speed, acid, cocaine, crack and heroin. NOW Actor, radio and television host, subject of documentary From Addiction to Recovery. "You'll take it until it takes your life. It'll take everything until the last thing and you'll gladly give it that rather than give up the drugs." Elton John English Rock Singer-Songwriter THEN Used cocaine and alcohol throughout the 198os. NOW Oscar and Grammy winner, singer, composer, founder of Elton John AIDS Foundation. "/ still dream, twice a week at least, that l've taken cocaine and I have it up my nose," he told NPR's Steve Inskeep. "And it's very vivid and it's very upsetting, but at least it's a wake-up call." Martin Sheen American Actor THEN Alcoholic, had a heart attack at age 36. NOW Multiple Emmy and Golden Globe winner, social and political activist. "/ did what any parent would do in the circumstances. You could not do that and say you loved a child. His life was at stake." Jamie Lee Curtis American Actress THEN Addicted to painkillers and alcohol. NOW Actress, two-time Golden Globe winner, author. "... Talking about the process of addiction is very difficult for a drug addict and an alcoholic. Talking about recovery and hopefulness is much easier for me." RCx Recovery Connection www.recoveryconnection.org