Natasha Lyonne Says She’s “Back on Her Feet” in Recovery After Relapse

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Natasha Lyonneis opening up about her progress.

Over two months after the actress from Orange Is the New Black shared that she had started using substances again after being sober for almost ten years, she gave a hopeful update about how she’s doing.

Natasha, 46, shared an update on March 19th, saying her child is recovering well and is back on their feet. She expressed gratitude to their support network and fans for their kindness and encouragement. While she wants to keep much of the recovery process private, she hopes to share her experiences and offer support to others facing similar challenges when the time is right. She also sent heartfelt wishes to anyone going through a difficult time.

The actress, known for her role in Russian Doll, also shared a message with her fans on Instagram, telling them, “I love you guys.”

Natasha’s fans showed strong support after she shared her experience with a relapse in January. Though a difficult part of her journey to stay sober, she offered hope and encouragement to others who have faced similar challenges.

I still have screenshots, obviously, but she tweeted this once, and it completely wrecked me in the best way. She said recovery isn’t a quick fix, it’s… everything, forever. And then, to anyone hurting, she just… got it. She said we weren’t alone, which, like, thank you! She was so grateful for love and… get this… ‘smart feet’ – I have no idea what that means, but it’s perfect. She always told everyone to be real, because our hidden stuff is what really gets us down. And then, the sweetest part: she just told everyone she loved them, even if they were really struggling. She said even when things are at their absolute worst, our experiences can help someone else. It’s just… everything. I replay that tweet in my head all the time.

She encouraged them to persevere, saying, “Don’t give up before something amazing happens. Fill your thoughts with positivity. Everything else is just distraction and nonsense.”

As she’s often said, the American Pie actress has been honest about learning to be kind to herself while dealing with addiction publicly. Early in her career, she faced two arrests, including a 2001 DUI where she pled guilty and was given six months of probation. In 2006, she decided to go to rehab, which was a key step in her journey to getting sober.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly about her 2012 legal issues, she said she felt like her life was completely falling apart. She acknowledged that many people in similar situations don’t recover, which makes her cautious and aware of herself. She didn’t want to seem boastful, but she was grateful for the incredible support she received, saying people helped her turn things around. She also wryly noted that having an arrest warrant actually motivated her to get things back on track.

Natasha said it’s frightening how easily someone can become addicted, and she’s thankful her past arrests ultimately helped her turn her life around.

Let me tell you, after facing something truly challenging – really going through the wringer – things shift into perspective. I used to be caught up in the world of entertainment, but honestly, after what I’ve been through, it all feels pretty insignificant. I’m so grateful to have moved past those confused, lost feelings I had as a teenager; it feels like a huge weight lifted.

Keep reading to see more celebrities who have been open about their journeys…

In October 2018, the actor known for American Pie shared on Instagram that he had been sober for a year, marking the occasion with a positive and uplifting message.

He shared that he first attempted to stop drinking and using drugs more than five years ago, realizing his addiction had become overwhelming. He admitted it was a difficult process, saying, “It turns out this is really hard.”

He shared that he’s been sober for a year, which he considers one of his proudest achievements. He encouraged anyone struggling with addiction to seek help, emphasizing that there’s no shame in asking and that recovery is possible.

Looking back on his battle with addiction, he thought about how far he’d gone to keep it a secret.

He described a cycle where he’d attend therapy, feel good afterward, and then immediately go buy and drink a large bottle of vodka before driving home. He shared this on his wife, Jenny Mollen’s, podcast, All the Fails, explaining that he used alcohol to disconnect from his feelings and avoid dealing with his life.

He explained that he’d carefully planned how much he’d drink, making sure he stayed coherent enough to talk. He mentioned he was constantly swapping out bottles at the bar to control his intake.

 

The two-time World Cup-winning soccer player has publicly discussed using Adderall inappropriately while recovering from injuries during her time playing college soccer.

She shared on the 2025 podcast Question Everything with Danielle Robay that she had become seriously addicted to Adderall and was using it improperly. She explained she was taking it constantly, often going days without sleep. It was a chaotic time, and she felt she was pushing her body to the limit, even to the point of fearing a heart attack. She admitted to crushing and snorting the pills, acknowledging it was a deeply unhealthy pattern.

However, in the midst of her struggle, her college coach Anson Dorrance was there to support her.

She described a difficult time when she had to adapt to challenging circumstances. Anson encouraged her to read, and she found a life-changing book called Man’s Search for Meaning. The book focused on how to cope with suffering by changing your perspective, and it profoundly impacted her life.

In October 2025, Migos member Quavo revealed he had been sober from codeine—an opioid often used in the drink known as sizzurp—for four years. He credited a serious conversation with his teenage son, Jordan, as the reason for getting clean.

Offset shared a story on the Baby, This Is Keke Palmer show about his son repeatedly asking for pineapple Fanta, even though he rarely drinks soda. What really got to Offset was when his son noticed the color of his Fanta was different and asked why, which he found incredibly touching.

Offset explained that the seemingly harmless comment really upset him, saying he almost cried when he went to his room.

The rapper explained he felt guilty as a father. He was worried his son didn’t realize he was using drugs and was especially concerned by small things, like his son wanting the same drink as him. It made him feel like he was a bad influence.

The Academy Award-winning actor has often openly discussed December 29, 1975 – the date he stopped drinking.

In an October 2025 interview on The New York Times‘ podcast, The Interview, he admitted he was driving drunk in California and completely blacked out. He had no idea where he was going until he realized the danger he posed to others – and himself, which at the time he didn’t seem to care about. It was then he understood he had a problem with alcohol.

He turned to a friend for support, which helped him start a new chapter in his life. In December 2025, he celebrated 50 years of sobriety and shared a message of hope for others who are struggling with similar challenges to those he faced decades ago.

He encouraged choosing life in an Instagram message, repeating the word ‘life’ several times to emphasize its importance: ‘Life life life and more life.’

The Valley star shared his decades-long battle with drugs in March 2025 after going to rehab.

Jax revealed on the March 4th episode of Bravo’s Hot Mic podcast that he’s struggling with addiction, specifically with cocaine. He admitted it was difficult to talk about.

Oh my gosh, it’s been a struggle for so long – ever since I was just 23, and now I’m 45! It’s like a cycle, you know? I’d manage to pull back for a while, convince myself I was okay, but then… I’d just fall right back into it, really hard. It’s exhausting, honestly, but I can’t seem to help myself.

Jax stopped drinking and using cocaine at the same time. He explained that while he wasn’t sure he had a serious drinking problem, he always used cocaine with alcohol, so he decided to quit both. He’s now been sober for over 82 days – the longest stretch of his life without either substance, and he’s proud of that.

Tom Holland, known for his role as Spider-Man, quit drinking in 2022 because he felt controlled by alcohol. He admitted on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast that he was addicted, saying, “I was definitely addicted to alcohol, not shying away from that at all.” He also suggested that having a drink every day could be a sign of a problem.

The actor explained that you eventually realize you made a mistake, like after having one too many beers. Then, you wake up with a really bad headache.

After changing his lifestyle, Holland found he was sleeping more soundly and coping with challenges more effectively.

He explained that he was much more relaxed and able to handle problems on set. He felt mentally clear, healthier, and in better physical shape.

Sean Connery, known for his role in Hunt for Red October, rarely discusses his recovery, which started nearly four decades ago.

He revealed in a May 2024 podcast that he doesn’t often talk about his sobriety, only bringing it up when relevant. He shared that he’s been sober for 39 years, since February 23, 1985.

Alec described a difficult period after relocating from New York to Los Angeles in 1983, admitting to a serious cocaine addiction. He said he was using a lot of the drug – to the point where it felt like a daily habit – and that cocaine was widespread and commonly used during that time.

And after quitting the drug, he soon turned to alcohol—only to also quit that dependency. 

Today, he relies on the city around him. 

He finds New York City incredibly calming. He loves simply walking around and discovering new details he’s never seen before – like noticing unique features on buildings he’s passed countless times. He also enjoys spending time with friends over lunch or coffee.

In April 2024, Anne Hathaway, known for her role in The Princess Diaries, revealed she’s been sober for over five years. She told The New York Times that reaching this point feels like a significant achievement.

She explained her decision simply. “I realized it wasn’t a good fit for me,” she said. “It felt difficult to have to completely refuse, but I had to be firm. It’s like an allergy – if you have a severe reaction, you don’t try to fight it. I finally stopped questioning my instincts.”

She’s glad she made the change. She explained, “For me, things are just better now. It used to really bring me down, and I don’t want to feel that way anymore.”

When accepting the 2018 Woman of the Year Award from the Peggy Albrecht Friendly House – a program helping women recover from addiction – Moore discussed how a damaging lifestyle almost ended her career.

I think we all have key moments that define us and change the course of our lives. Early in my career, I was heading down a really destructive path. Even when I achieved success, I never felt satisfied or good enough about myself. I had very little self-worth, and things quickly reached a breaking point. At the time, I didn’t understand why, but it felt like something—maybe fate—intervened.

In 2012, seeking help, Moore expressed gratitude to two strangers who essentially challenged her to change her life. She joked that they told her she needed to get help or face the consequences, and that they gave her an opportunity to get back on track before she ruined everything.

Honestly, it’s like they knew what I was capable of even before I did! It’s amazing, and I’ll never forget that they took a chance on me, believed in me… I seriously wouldn’t be where I am right now without them seeing something special in me.

Miley Cyrus revealed in 2022 that she’s been working on overcoming her addiction to Xanax since 2020. She told Rolling Stone that recovery provided much-needed stability during a difficult time, preventing her from getting lost in her own thoughts and giving her a sense of optimism.

The singer explained that once they discovered a way to briefly escape their pain, they were finished with something – implying a turning point or the end of a struggle.

Looking back, I remember her talking about how her friends at the time didn’t really discourage her when she started using, and it just spiraled into something really dark and endless. She’s shared that during the pandemic, she really started to see how much it was affecting her – she wasn’t truly there emotionally. She’d fall asleep constantly, completely unable to stay awake or even hold her head up because she was so lost in it all.

She eventually sought help and noted that “it took some time to get on my own two feet.”

In his 2025 documentary, Stans, Eminem opened up about his past struggles with prescription pills. He revealed that an overdose and missing his daughter Hailie Jade’s birthday were turning points that led him to change his life.

He explained that he became emotional realizing he had been missing out. He recalled repeatedly asking himself, ‘Do you want to go through life missing these moments again? If you can’t do this for yourself, do it for the people you care about.’

Focusing on making music again was a key part of the Oscar winner’s recovery from addiction.

He described how it activated a light. This made him realize he no longer felt ashamed of being sober. Instead, he began to view his sobriety as a strength, and he felt proud of overcoming his addiction.

The former star of Parenthood had been sober for 16 years when she had a relapse in 2020. This happened after a motorcycle accident and she began taking Vicodin again.

He explained on his Armchair Expert podcast that he’s been taking prescription medication consistently for about the past two months. He also mentioned he’s taking more than the prescribed dose.

He went on, saying he hated what was happening and felt he was deceiving everyone around him. He knew he needed to stop, but his tolerance was increasing so rapidly that he was now using eight pills a day. He realized this high amount would lead to severe withdrawal symptoms, and he was becoming increasingly frightened and isolated, burdened by a huge secret.

In 2018, the actress known for her role in Halloween openly discussed her decade-long struggle with opioid addiction. It began in the late 1980s after a small cosmetic procedure to address her naturally puffy eyes. The resulting prescription dramatically altered her life. She told People magazine that she spent ten years stealing and deceiving others, all in secret. “No one knew,” she said. “No one.”

Honestly, 1998 was… rough. It all came crashing down when my sister came to visit. She had these painkillers – she’d hurt her rib – and just knowing they were in the guest room closet… it was too much. I took them. All of them. I remember waiting for her to pack, knowing she’d find they were gone. I had to tell her, so I wrote her this note, just confessing everything and left it on her suitcase. When she came home that day, instead of being angry, she just… held me. She told me she loved me, that she was worried about me, and that she couldn’t bear to watch me destroy myself. It was awful, but also… it was the moment I realized I needed help.

I remember when Jamie first shared her journey with us – it was February 3rd, 1999, at a meeting. She actually told her husband, Christopher Guest, right then and there, and she said he couldn’t believe he hadn’t noticed before. It’s incredible to me, because she’s maintained her sobriety ever since, and it’s been so inspiring to witness.

Drew Barrymore, who has openly discussed her past struggles with alcohol and drug addiction, revealed in 2021 that she had reached a significant point in her recovery. Speaking on CBS Mornings, she shared that she’d been sober for two and a half years, explaining that alcohol simply wasn’t helping her life anymore.

She explained that sharing who you truly are and the things you’ve achieved can be both incredibly freeing and deeply personal.

Drew Barrymore told the Los Angeles Times she avoids calling herself “sober” because she doesn’t want to be seen as overly strict or judgmental.

She explained that she used to tell herself, ‘I can learn this, I can solve this.’ But eventually, she came to the realization that she hadn’t, and wouldn’t, ever truly master it, as she shared in 2023.

Bradley Cooper battled a cocaine addiction in the early 2000s. His friend, Will Arnett, helped him by directly addressing his issues and holding him accountable.

Cooper shared in a 2022 podcast interview that it was then he first understood he was struggling with substance use. He said he’ll never forget that moment of realization.

Cooper explained that Arnett was instrumental in his decision to get sober, saying, “Arnett bravely confronted me, which ultimately led me to change my life for the better.”

The actor, known for his role in Fight Club, battled alcohol addiction for years until Bradley Cooper helped him get sober. Accepting an award from Cooper at the 2020 National Board of Review Annual Awards, he shared, “I got sober because of this guy, and I’ve been happier every day since.”

In September 2023, the former Cruel Intentions star revealed on Instagram that they hadn’t used nicotine or marijuana – or any substances, really – for the longest time since their teenage years.

He expressed gratitude for overcoming addiction and dependence, saying that achieving sobriety brings a sense of clarity and a deeper spiritual connection, which feels incredibly good.

In 2018, the singer first celebrated six years of being sober while on tour. However, she surprised fans later that year with her honest single, “Sober,” in which she admitted to having struggled with relapse.

She sang, filled with regret: “Mom, I’m truly sorry I’ve lost control. Dad, please forgive the mess I’ve made. To those who have always stood by me, I know we’ve faced this before, and I’m so sorry I’m not sober again.”

A month later, Lovato was hospitalized for a near-fatal overdose.

She shared on Instagram a couple of weeks ago that she’s always been open about her struggles with addiction. She explained that it’s an ongoing battle, not something she’s simply overcome, and that she still has work to do to get better. She asked for time to heal and concentrate on staying sober and recovering, and expressed her gratitude for all the support she’s received. She’s hopeful for the future and determined to continue fighting for her recovery.

In 2018, she spoke about her struggles with sex and alcohol addiction. She explained that her addictions tended to shift over time, and when she was younger, she believed sex could solve any problem. She later realized this had developed into a problematic relationship with drinking.

I’ll never forget it. I was completely alone, and I was already on my second bottle of wine… honestly, I was reaching for a third! That’s when it hit me – I was sitting there by myself, seriously considering opening another bottle. It was a wake-up call, a moment where I realized, ‘Okay, this isn’t normal. I might actually have a problem.’

I just stopped completely. That’s something I’m able to do. I tend to get really into things, and I always have to be mindful of my habits. It’s not necessarily what you’re doing, but how and why you’re doing it. It’s the underlying behavior that matters. For example, wanting to have a lot of sex is fine, but you need to understand why you want that.

Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean revealed he first experimented with drugs before shooting the music video for their 2000 hit, “The Call.” He later told Good Morning America that he was extremely out of control during the video shoot. After a setback, he achieved sobriety in 2021 and experienced significant improvements in his health within a year, including losing 32 pounds over seven months by eliminating alcohol and junk food.

He told People magazine in July 2025 that he’s committed to staying on his current path. He described it as a daily effort, but explained that following advice from the recovery community has dramatically improved his life.

While AJ acknowledged he is “still learning, still growing,” he’s now confident in who he is.

I’ve been learning to set healthy boundaries, something I never did before, and it’s been really helpful. ‘AJ’ is a stage name or character I use, but it doesn’t represent who I truly am. My real name is Alexander James, and that’s who I am as a person.

Following the tragic death of Mac Miller, rapper Bow Wow, whose real name is Shad Moss, revealed his own past struggle with addiction in a series of tweets. He confessed that while working on the ‘Face Off’ album with Omarion, he was regularly using codeine cough syrup, known as ‘lean.’ He admitted to being high on lean during a heated exchange with Torae on BET, explaining it affected his attitude and led to a negative reaction from fans and family. Despite never mentioning the drug in his music, he was addicted to it throughout the UCP tour with Chris Brown, consuming it at least seven times a day. He experienced severe withdrawal symptoms after collapsing backstage at a show in Cincinnati, landing him in the hospital.

Bow Wow described the withdrawal pain as unlike anything he’d ever felt, causing him to feel intensely cold even in summer. He missed shows in Chicago and Baltimore due to being high and sick, and now regrets using drugs to appear cool. He urged young people to avoid drugs, be good to their families, and strive to be their best selves, promising to be more vocal about the dangers. He expressed concern for the youth and pleaded with parents to talk to their children about the risks, emphasizing the importance of life.

He shared that he still suffers stomach problems as a result of his addiction, and continues to advocate for a drug-free lifestyle. He concluded by urging young artists and fans to break the cycle of drug use, emphasizing that they are loved and valued.

In 2018, the singer opened up about her struggles with addiction, coinciding with the release of her album No Shame and her memoir My Thoughts Exactly. She revealed she had been heavily using cocaine and drinking excessively. Things came to a head when, after accidentally hitting Orlando Bloom with her head at Kate Hudson’s Halloween party and knocking herself unconscious, Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin organized an intervention to help her.

She shared with The Guardian that she felt deeply unfulfilled. She recalled a particularly difficult time when she considered trying heroin, feeling that nothing else could alleviate her pain.

The actor best known for The Parent Trap struggled with cocaine addiction during the 1980s, leading him to seek treatment in 1990. He later shared on Today that he came of age in the 1960s and 70s, a time when attitudes toward drug use were very different.

He confessed that during the 1980s, he was using cocaine almost every day, to the point where it was impacting his finances. He described desperate pleas to God to stop, often made right before work, followed by a temporary feeling of control later in the day – thinking he could manage it until the next time.

He described a powerful experience – what he called seeing a white light – where he felt like he was either dying or losing everything important in his life. He then had to explain this to his then-fiancée, Meg Ryan, and after that, he decided to get help. He says this marked the end of his struggle with cocaine.

Following an incident at a Newport Beach hotel where he attempted to damage his door, Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte began treatment for alcohol addiction in 2018. According to his representative, Lochte had been struggling with alcohol abuse for years, and it had become a harmful cycle. He realized he needed professional help and started receiving treatment right away.

According to a recent statement, Ryan understands that overcoming this illness is crucial not only for his future well-being and relationships with his family, but also for his ambition to compete at his fifth Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020 and reclaim his place as a top swimmer.

Despite knowing you shouldn’t get sober for another person, actor Jason Ritter credits his relationship with Melanie Lynskey as a key factor in his decision to stop drinking.

He realized how wonderful she was and believed she deserved someone truly special. Appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show in March 2023, he admitted he didn’t feel up to the task, saying he felt ‘a little bit too crazy’ for her.

However, as Ritter noted to TopMob News, he now sees that sobriety is ultimately a personal choice.

He remembered feeling insecure when they first started dating. It was simpler to justify his actions by saying he was doing them for her, because he didn’t prioritize his own well-being much at the time. He was more concerned with protecting her feelings than his own. Initially, that explanation felt right, but now he’s motivated by his own needs and desires.

The country singer has been sober for almost ten years, but reaching this point was a difficult journey. His struggle with alcohol and painkillers started shortly after high school and continued even as his career gained momentum. He confessed to People magazine that he always kept a black leather laptop bag nearby, filled with bottles of Jagermeister or vodka, and would drink “every hour and a half to two hours.” He also admitted to taking a pill or two every three to four hours.

It didn’t hinder his achievements at all. “I wasn’t falling apart,” he explained. “Actually, I was more productive then – I wrote more songs during that time than I do today, and that’s what really worried me.”

In late 2011, he was hospitalized with pancreatitis and warned that continued drinking could be fatal. He admitted he initially tried to cut back on his own, setting daily limits on pills and alcohol. “I’d tell myself, ‘Okay, just two pills today, or only this much from the bottle,’ and I’d even mark the bottle to keep track,” he remembered. But his attempts at moderation were short-lived. “It would work for a couple of days, then someone would have a party,” he said.

Gilbert ultimately realized he needed professional help and entered a rehabilitation program on December 18, 2011. He explained, “I finally admitted I couldn’t overcome this on my own.” He was frustrated and ashamed, saying, “It really bothered me, and I’m usually a very determined person, but this was the one thing I just couldn’t control.”

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2026-03-20 19:50