It’s no secret that addiction is commonplace within the entertainment industry. For decades, actors and actresses have dealt with drug issues, alcoholism and many other difficult dependencies. But in Hollywood today, recovery has become a major movement. So much so, that the industry mag Variety has devoted an entire issue to it.
Featuring covergirl Jamie Lee Curtis (who herself courageously battled and overcame dependency issues), the special issue has conversations with executives, sober coaches and Hollywood A-listers; all concerning addiction.
Curtis gave an in-depth interview on the topic, outlining the many temptations that occur when you’re knee deep in “the industry.” From cast parties, to long nights on the set, substances can rear their heads in many places. But, as she puts it, recovery is now readily available too.
“There is recovery available for free anywhere you choose to find it. You have to want it,” Curtis explained when discussing her working environment. “Once you want it, there are millions of people who will help you achieve it. That has been my experience, that has been my strength and that is my hope for anybody reading this issue.”
Curtis openly revealed that her turning point came in the late 1990’s, after a Vicodin dependency nearly killed her. Now, she hosts recovery meetings for other actors and has become a major advocate for people in need of sobriety.
Recovery research expert John Kelly was also interviewed by Variety for the issue. He touched on the unique struggles people in Hollywood often have to face. He explained that meetings often occur over drinks, long shoots can bring on stimulant temptations and depression can often occur when people are on location and away from their families.
Katey Sagal, who rose to fame on the TV series Married With Children was interviewed as well. She has been proudly sober for over three decades and credits several peers within the industry for keeping her on track. Since getting clean, herself, Sagal now “pays it forward” by playing that role for others.
“I love my sobriety,” she explained. “If I don’t have my recovery, I don’t have my successful, wonderful life. My recovery always has to come first. It just does.”
One other misnomer about sobriety and the arts is that it can hinder creativity. Many have incorrectly felt that they needed to be high to deliver a good performance or write a good song. Now, however, that is being shown not to be the case.
We highly recommend reading the online version of Variety’s Recovery issue. You can see it for yourself, by clicking here.
