Celebrities….they are just like us.
When you read the above statement, you may shake your head and even smile a little. On the surface, there seems to be little in common between us commoners and those who are A-listers. While we may not have the padded bank account, famous friends and jetset lifestyle that celebrities possess, there are obviously things that we have in common with those who are famous. Like everybody, celebrities are confronted with the pressures to succeed in their daily life and have to find ways to cope with those pressures.
While many celebrities find healthy ways to cope with the pressure of being in the spotlight, there are some who may turn to drugs and alcohol as a means of escape. Addiction is an equal opportunity destroyer of lives–no matter who you are and what zip code you call home. Over the years, there have been a list of celebrities who have succumbed to the dangers of substance abuse–but there also have been many who beat back addiction and are at the top of their game professionally and personally.
The following is a list of 5 celebrities who live in Southern California who are in recovery.
Danny Trejo
Iconic Hollywood tough guy Danny Trejo is best known for his roles in movies such as Desperado and Machete. What people may not know about Trejo is that he is a long-time recovering addict–47 years clean and sober to be exact. He made his decision to get sober in his mid 20’s after being released from prison. After getting clean and sober, he became a drug counselor and became an actor almost by accident.
Trejo ended up on a Hollywood movie set while helping one of his clients, who turned out to be an actor. He was hired as an on-set boxing coach, and was ultimately cast as an extra in the film. The role jumpstarted his acting career, and he has since appeared in up to five movies a year. Trejo’s incredible story is the subject of a new AARP documentary.
Robert Downey Jr.
Perhaps one of the most well-known celebrities who beat back addiction is Robert Downey Jr. Part of the “Brat Pack” who won rave reviews for such early films as Less Than Zero and his Oscar-nominated role in the biopic Chaplin, he was also known for his drug and alcohol abuse and his reckless behavior. In and out of jail throughout the 1990’s, he was effectively blacklisted in Hollywood. However, he began is road to redemption in the early 2000’s and in late 2005 he went to treatment and has been clean and sober ever since.
Demi Lovato
Children who grow up in the public spotlight often struggle with the pressures and expectations of fame, and Demi Lovato is a prime example. Not only was Lovato struggling with her fame, she had also struggled with a dysfunctional family life, substance abuse and bipolar disorder. Five years ago, she checked herself into a drug rehab facility and has remained clean and sober to the present day. Lovato is very outspoken about her struggles with addiction and mental illness and as become a spokesperson for Be Vocal.
Bradley Cooper
The star of The Hangover and Silver Linings Playbook has been sober for over a decade, and he made the decision to be in recovery before his acting career blossomed. He began to attract attention after his role in Wedding Crashers, but felt that his personal life was starting to spiral out of control. He had revealed in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter how he willfully smashed his head against the concrete at a party and wound up in the hospital. Soon after attending rehab, his movie career took off and he approached his celebrity with clarity and purpose.
Kristin Davis
Before she got sober, the star of Sex and the City star didn’t think she would live past 30– a sentiment many an addict and alcoholic can relate to in their own struggles. In numerous interviews, she explained that alcoholism runs in her family. When her acting career was picking up steam, she realized she couldn’t have both and she quit drinking while in her 20’s.
Getting Help For Your Addiction is Closer Than You Think
Drug and alcohol addiction is a complex disease that can affect anyone’s life. If you are struggling with substance abuse and are looking for help, the start of your recovery begins with SoCal Detox. Our safe and effective detox programs will help minimize the physical and psychological symptoms of withdrawal and get you back to optimal health. Our experienced staff will create an individual plan of recovery that is specifically created with your unique needs in mind.
The happiness and serenity that if found in recovery is closer than you think. Call SoCal Detox today.
