The music industry is full of temptation for young artists. When fame occurs seemingly overnight, it may be easy to fall into the trap of experimenting with drugs and alcohol. With rapper Eminem, a serious drug habit not only almost cost him his career, but also his life.
From Bad to Worse
For years following his breakout success with the Slim Shady LP and the Marshall Mathers LP in 2000, Eminem abused prescription medications. In an interview with Vibe magazine, he admitted to taking as many as twenty pills a day. He would ingest a dangerous mixture of Vicodin, Ambien and Valium. Although he went to rehabilitation in 2005 for dependency on sleep aid medications, he continued to struggle after his release.
Soon after he finished his stint in rehab, Eminem overdosed on a handful of blue pills given to him by an acquaintance. Doctors informed the rapper that he had ingested enough methadone to equal the same amount as shooting up four bags of heroin. A second release occurred following knee surgery performed on the rapper as he dealt with the pain by taking Vicodin and Valium.
During the worse days of his drug addiction, Eminem admitted he had contemplated taking his own life. It wasn’t until he realized how easily he could die from drug abuse that he decided to get help. He went through treatment again and this time sobriety stuck.
Lifelong Commitment
Eminem doesn’t hold back when it comes to his feelings towards recovery. In interviews, the rapper admitted to never understanding how people could say addiction is a disease. He now understands that for him, he must steer clear of all drugs and alcohol. Even one drink could lead him down a dark path. He understands that he isn’t the type to be a social drinker and must lead a completely clean lifestyle.
Eminem has been successful in bouncing back from his addiction and continues to tear up the charts with hit after hit. He’s been clean since 2008 and makes it a point to speak to youth about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.