Famous People who Battled Alcoholism and Addiction

If there's any more indication that addiction and alcoholism are diseases that affect all people from all walks of life, it's the high prevalence of these conditions among the most powerful and intelligent people of our time. Addiction knows no human boundaries and affects people regardless of race, religion, economic or social status, education, region, or any other factor. Because alcoholism and addiction are progressive neurological diseases, anyone can be affected – even those who have led seemingly untouchable lives. Jim Davis, CEO of Recovery First – a Florida Alcohol Rehab Center – once summed up what recovery from addiction and alcoholism is really all about. He said: "It's a lifeboat. We're all in this together." So whether you're a janitor who can't put the bottle down or you’re a teacher whose prescription pill addiction has gotten out of control, you can take comfort in knowing that you're not alone. Some of the brightest and most seemingly in-control people have suffered from these diseases: Famous Musicians with Addiction or Alcohol Problems In the early 90's a new type of rock group hit the international stage and achieved enormous success: Nirvana. However, the band's front-man, Kurt Cobain, suffered from a severe heroin addiction. This is evidenced repeatedly in the lyrics of his music, where he constantly refers to his melancholy take on life and drug addiction. In 1994 Cobain shot himself to death in a remote cottage. Friends and family said he saw this as his only option to stop using. Long before Cobain was born, Janis Joplin was already struggling with heroin addiction – clearly a drug that has spanned generations of addicts. Despite a new life and monumental success from her humble beginnings, Joplin succumbed to an overdose in a hotel room when she was only 27 years old. Famous Writers with Addiction Troubles If you've ever really studied any of Stephen King's work, you'll quickly realize that his books and subsequent movies are full of characters – especially protagonists – that have severe drinking or drug problems. As many writers have said, you can only write about what you know, and this was no different for King, who was addicted to pills, street drugs and alcohol before getting clean decades ago. One of King's influences, Ernest Hemmingway, was also an alcoholic – and proud of that fact. Hemmingway often chided his alcoholic writer peers for not being able to keep up with him when it came to drinking. His contemporary, Jack Kerouac, was also very bold about his alcoholism and vowed to the world that his death would come about as a result of drinking. He fulfilled this vow in October of 1969 when he died from internal hemorrhaging: his liver, damaged by years of drinking and drug use, would no longer allow his blood to clot. Today, drug addiction and alcoholism are prevalent even in the biggest stars and politicians. Robert Downey, JR, Lindsay Lohan, and even the world-famous Senator Ted Kennedy struggled with addiction. However, today there are far more treatment options available and the chances of getting clean and staying clean are far greater than they were even a decade or two ago. So if you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or alcoholism, you should take heart in knowing that you're not alone. Help is only a phone call away.

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