Paris Jackson is sharing a glimpse into her life.
Six years after getting sober from alcohol and heroin, Michael Jackson’s only daughter shared her experiences with the challenges and triumphs of changing her life.
Paris shared on Instagram that getting sober doesn’t automatically fix everything. She explained that after a few years, things became incredibly difficult, feeling like a never-ending struggle. She realized she’d lost the coping mechanisms she used to rely on.
The 27-year-old explained that she needed to accept life as it came, and a big part of that meant dealing with her mental health challenges.
Dealing with treatment-resistant depression is incredibly difficult, as are conditions like complex PTSD and OCD. If you’re struggling with any of these challenges, please know that you’re not by yourself.
She finished her thoughtful post with a moving message set to the music of The Cinematic Orchestra’s “To Build a Home.” She encouraged anyone going through a hard time, saying, “Keep going, and if you haven’t heard it today, I love you.”
Paris, who broke up with Justin Long last year, has been open about how much her life has changed since she started focusing on sobriety.
Receiving the Shining Star Award, she shared how turning her life around felt like more than just recovery. She described getting sober as being similar to a car accident – everything she’d been avoiding suddenly had to be dealt with. Now, she’s learning to accept and navigate life as it comes.
The singer is incredibly thankful to be celebrating another year of being sober. She marked her five-year milestone by expressing gratitude for all the good things in her life.
Simply saying ‘thank you’ doesn’t even begin to express how I feel,” the model shared on Instagram in January 2025. “I’m so much more grateful than words can say. Being sober allows me to truly enjoy life – to create music, love my pets, and fully experience both the good and the bad, to feel joy and sadness, to grieve, to laugh, to dance, and to trust again.
She said, “I can feel the warmth of the sun on my skin. I’ve realized life goes on whether I’m sober or not, and today, I’m choosing to fully participate in it.”
For more celebs who’ve detailed their sobriety journey, keep reading.
After the Backstreet Boys member relapsed in 2021, he noted he “got sober again for the last time.”
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 said he’s finally taken advice from the recovery community, and it’s 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 personal boundaries, something I didn’t used to do. It’s been really helpful. I also understand that ‘AJ’ is a public image, but it’s separate from who I really am – I’m Alexander James.
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 hopeful message.
He shared that he first attempted to stop drinking and using drugs more than five years ago, when his addiction became overwhelming. He admitted it was a difficult process, saying, “It turns out this is really hard.”
Oh my gosh, he said it! One whole year sober! I’m seriously tearing up just thinking about it. He’s always been so open, and hearing him talk about this… it’s just incredible. He said he’s so proud, and honestly, I am too! He’s just… a beacon of hope, you know? And he wants anyone who’s going through it to know they’re not alone, to ask for help, and that we can get through this together. It’s everything. Seriously, everything.
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 whole bottle of vodka before driving home. He explained on his wife Jenny Mollen’s podcast, All the Fails, that he used alcohol to escape his feelings and disconnect from his life and the present moment.
Honestly, I was really mindful of my drinking that night. I wanted to be sharp and able to connect with you, so I was secretly swapping out full drinks for empty ones at the bar the whole time! It was all about pacing myself and making sure I could actually have a conversation.
The two-time World Cup-winning soccer player has publicly discussed using Adderall improperly 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 in a dangerous way. She explained she was taking it constantly, often going days without sleep. It was an extremely chaotic period, and she felt like she was pushing her body to the limit, even fearing a heart attack. She admitted to crushing and snorting the pills, acknowledging how harmful her behavior was.
However, in the midst of her struggle, her college coach Anson Dorrance was there to support her.
She described a difficult time where 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 finding purpose even in suffering, and it profoundly impacted her perspective.
In October 2025, Migos member Quavo revealed he had been sober from codeine—an opioid often mixed with soda to create the drink known as sizzurp—for four years. He credited a serious conversation with his teenage son, Jordan, as the turning point that led him to get clean.
Offset shared a story on the show Baby, This Is Keke Palmer about his son repeatedly asking for pineapple Fanta, even though he rarely drinks soda. What really struck Offset was when his son noticed the color of his Fanta was different and asked why, which Offset found incredibly touching.
Offset explained that the seemingly harmless comment really upset him, adding, “I almost cried when I went to my 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 about unintentionally influencing him, even in small ways, like when his son expressed a desire for the same drink.
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 even himself, which he said he didn’t care about at the time. That moment, he explained, was when 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 with others who were once in the same difficult situation he faced decades earlier.
He urged people to embrace life in an Instagram message, repeating the word ‘life’ several times for emphasis, saying, “Choose life instead of the opposite. 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 share this openly.
I’ve been navigating this particular challenge on and off for over two decades, since I was in my early twenties. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster – sometimes I’d manage to put it behind me, and other times I’d really lean into it.
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, which is the longest stretch of abstinence he’s ever experienced.
Tom Holland, known for his role in Spider-Man: No Way Home, quit drinking in 2022 because he felt controlled by alcohol. He admitted on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast that he was addicted. “I was definitely addicted to alcohol, and I’m not afraid to say that,” Holland shared. He believes that even having a beer 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 drinks. 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, famous for his role in Hunt for Red October, rarely discusses his recovery, which started nearly forty years 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 his early years in Los Angeles after leaving New York in 1983 as a period of intense struggle with cocaine use. He admitted to using a very large amount of the drug, comparing it to how common coffee was at the time, and said it was prevalent among many people.
And after quitting the drug, he soon turned to alcohol—only to also quit that dependency.
Today, he relies on the city around him.
You know, New York City just really calms me down. I love wandering around – I always seem to discover something new, some little detail I’ve never seen before. It might be something about a building, like a set of doors I hadn’t noticed, but it’s wonderful. And I really cherish being able to meet up with friends for lunch or coffee. It’s just a really grounding place for me.
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 the right path for me,” she said. “It felt difficult to completely decline, to say ‘no’ to everything. But it made sense – if you have a serious allergic reaction, you don’t question it. I finally stopped questioning my instincts.”
She’s glad she made the change. She explained that, for her, it’s made everything better, preventing her from getting stuck in negativity. She simply doesn’t enjoy feeling sorry for herself.
When accepting the 2018 Woman of the Year Award from the Peggy Albrecht Friendly House—a program helping women recover from substance and alcohol abuse—Moore discussed how she almost lost her career due to a harmful lifestyle.
Looking back, I truly believe there are key moments that define us and set our lives’ course. Early in my career, I was heading down a really dangerous path – I was self-destructive, and no matter how much I achieved, it never felt like enough. I had zero self-worth, and things spiraled quickly into a major crisis. At the time, I didn’t understand why it was happening, but now I almost feel like something bigger was at play, maybe even a guiding force.
In 2012, seeking help, Moore expressed gratitude to two strangers who gave her a wake-up call. She jokingly said they essentially told her to get her life back on track or face the consequences, adding that they gave her an opportunity to change course before she ruined everything.
Moore reflected that others recognized potential in her that she hadn’t seen in herself. She expressed deep gratitude for their belief in her, saying she wouldn’t have achieved her current success without their support.
Miley Cyrus revealed in 2022 that she’s been working on overcoming her Xanax addiction since 2020. She told Rolling Stone that recovery provided much-needed stability during a difficult time. “It really gave me structure when I needed it most, and it gave me hope,” she explained.
The singer explained that once they discovered a way to briefly escape their pain, they were finished – meaning they’d reached a turning point and couldn’t go back.
Okay, so she was talking about how her friends back then were, like, totally okay with her using, and she said it just spiraled – a really dark, endless hole. But then the pandemic hit, and she started really noticing things were bad. She said she was just completely spacing out, falling asleep everywhere. Honestly, she couldn’t even hold her head up or keep her eyes open because she was so out of it. It’s just… heartbreaking to hear her talk about it, you know?
She eventually sought help and noted that “it took some time to get on my own two feet.”
Oh my gosh, you guys, I just finished watching Eminem’s new documentary, Stans, and it was SO raw. He talked about how badly he messed up with pills, and it broke my heart. He actually overdosed! Can you imagine?! But the worst part was he missed Hailie’s birthday party… his little girl’s birthday! He said that was the moment he knew he had to get clean. It was so powerful, and honestly, it makes me love him even more that he’s so open about everything. I’m just so glad he’s still here and doing better.
He explained that he started crying because he realized he was experiencing something he’d previously missed out on. He described a harsh internal monologue, repeatedly asking himself if he wanted to repeat past mistakes and miss out on life again. He pushed himself to persevere, even if just for the sake of others, urging himself not to be weak or miss another opportunity.
Focusing on making music again proved to be a key part of the Oscar winner’s recovery from addiction.
He said it did something – it switched the light on. That moment made him realize he wasn’t ashamed of being sober anymore. He began to see 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 they had a relapse in 2020. This happened after a motorcycle accident and they 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 dosage.
He admitted he was miserable and felt he had to stop, but his habit was escalating rapidly. He was now using eight pills a day, a quantity he knew would lead to severe withdrawal symptoms. This realization filled him with fear and a deep sense of isolation, all while he kept his struggle hidden from everyone.
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 a family trait – puffy eyes. The resulting prescription dramatically altered her life. She told People magazine that she spent ten years stealing and deceiving others, keeping it a secret from everyone.
In the summer of 1998, when her sister came to visit, Curtis reached her lowest point. Her sister had brought prescription painkillers for a broken rib, and Curtis admitted to taking them all. Remembering the event, she explained that she knew her sister would discover the missing pills before leaving. She confessed in a note left on the suitcase, and when her sister returned, she embraced Curtis, expressing her love and concern, and stating she couldn’t bear to watch Curtis destroy herself.
Jamie Lee Curtis went to her first support group meeting on February 3, 1999, and on that same day, she told her husband, filmmaker Christopher Guest, about her struggles with addiction. She said he was surprised he hadn’t realized she was going through this, and she’s been sober ever since.
Drew Barrymore, who has openly struggled with alcohol and drug addiction in the past, revealed in 2021 that she had reached a significant point in her recovery. During an interview on CBS Mornings, she shared that she’d been sober for two and a half years, explaining that alcohol simply wasn’t helping her live a fulfilling life.
It’s really amazing—sharing who you are, what you believe, and everything you’ve achieved feels both incredibly freeing and a little scary.
Drew Barrymore told the Los Angeles Times she avoids calling herself “sober” because she doesn’t want to come across as overly strict or judgmental.
In 2023, she explained that she used to tell herself, ‘I’ll get the hang of this, I’ll find a way.’ But eventually, she came to a different conclusion: ‘I’m not going to master this, and that’s okay.’
Bradley Cooper battled a cocaine addiction in the early 2000s. His friend, Will Arnett, helped him by directly addressing the issue and confronting him about his struggles.
Cooper shared in a 2022 podcast interview that it was the first time he truly understood he was struggling with substance use. He said he’ll never forget that moment of realization.
Cooper explained that Arnett’s willingness to have a difficult conversation was key to his decision to get sober and change his life. He called Arnett ‘the reason’ he was able to do so.
The actor, known for his role in Fight Club, battled alcohol addiction for years before 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 my life has been better every day since.”
In September 2023, the former Cruel Intentions star revealed on Instagram that she hadn’t used nicotine or marijuana—or any substances, really—for the longest time since her teenage years.
He expressed gratitude for overcoming addiction and substance dependency, saying that achieving sobriety brings a sense of clarity and a deeper spiritual connection, which feels incredibly good.
In 2018, the singer celebrated six years of being sober while on tour. However, she surprised her fans later that year with the release of her song “Sober,” in which she admitted to having struggled with relapse.
She sang, filled with regret: “Mom, I’m really sorry I’ve lost my sobriety. And Dad, please forgive me for the mess I’ve made. To those of you who’ve stuck by me, I know we’ve been through this before, and I’m so sorry I’m struggling again.”
A month later, Lovato was hospitalized for a near-fatal overdose.
She shared on Instagram a couple of weeks ago that she’s 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 focus on healing and staying sober, and expressed her gratitude for the support she’s received. She’s hopeful about the future and determined to keep fighting for her recovery.
In 2018, she spoke about her past 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 then described realizing she had developed a serious issue with drinking.
She recalled a low point when she was home alone and nearly finished her third bottle of wine. That’s when she realized she might have a drinking problem, and stopped to consider what was happening.
I stopped abruptly, which I’m actually good at. I tend to get really focused on things, sometimes to an unhealthy degree, and I have to be careful. It’s not necessarily what someone is doing, but why and how they’re doing it. The underlying motivation and behavior are what really matter. For example, enjoying sex is fine, but it’s important to understand why someone is being so active.
Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean revealed he first experimented with drugs before filming 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. He achieved sobriety in 2021, and within a year, experienced significant improvements, including losing 32 pounds in seven months by eliminating alcohol and fast food from his diet.
He told Today in September 2022 that drinking led to both weight gain and a decline in his mental well-being.
Following the unexpected death of Mac Miller, rapper Bow Wow—born Shad Moss—shared on Twitter that he had previously battled an addiction to cough syrup, often called ‘lean.’ He explained that during the creation of his album ‘FACE OFF’ with Omarion, he was using lean daily. He admitted to being high on the substance during a heated exchange with Torae on BET, and that it negatively impacted his attitude, relationships with fans and family. He emphasized he never promoted drug use in his music. He revealed he was addicted to lean, consuming it at least seven times a day during his UCP tour with Chris Brown, until he collapsed backstage in Cincinnati and woke up in the hospital experiencing withdrawal.
Bow Wow described the withdrawal pain as unlike anything he’d ever felt, recalling needing to wear multiple hoodies even in summer due to feeling intensely cold. He missed shows in Chicago and Baltimore because he was high and sick, and expressed regret for using drugs to appear cool. He urged young people to avoid drugs, be good to their families, and strive to be their best selves, stating he would be more outspoken about the issue. He stressed the importance of protecting youth and educating parents, sharing that he almost died from his addiction.
Bow Wow concluded by saying he still suffers from stomach problems as a result of his past drug use, and that staying drug-free is the best path forward. He pleaded with young people not to follow harmful trends and to break the cycle of addiction, emphasizing the need to save young lives and expressing his love and support for his fans worldwide.
In 2018, the singer opened up about her struggles with addiction alongside the release of her album No Shame and her memoir My Thoughts Exactly. She revealed she had been using cocaine and drinking heavily, describing herself as constantly intoxicated. Things came to a head when, after accidentally hitting Orlando Bloom with a headbutt at Kate Hudson’s Halloween party and knocking herself unconscious, Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin organized an intervention for her.
I’ve spoken to so many people who’ve felt utterly lost, and this woman’s story really resonated with me. She shared with The Guardian that she reached a point where nothing seemed to bring her any joy or relief. It was a really dark time, and she actually remembers thinking one morning that maybe, just maybe, heroin would finally fill that void because everything else had failed her. It’s a stark reminder of how desperate things can get when you’re struggling and can’t find a way through.
The actor best known for The Parent Trap struggled with cocaine addiction throughout the 1980s, eventually entering rehab 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 in the 1980s, his cocaine use was so extensive it rivaled some movie budgets. He described desperately pleading with God to help him stop, often right before work, only to find himself rationalizing his habit later in the day, thinking it wasn’t a serious problem.
He described a powerful experience – what he called seeing a white light – where he felt he was either dying or losing everything important in his life. He then had to explain this to his then-fiancée, Meg Ryan, and afterward, 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 break down his own door, Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte entered treatment for alcohol addiction in 2018. According to his representative, Lochte had been struggling with alcohol abuse for years, and it had become a damaging cycle. He recognized the need for professional help and began treatment right away.
According to a recent statement, Ryan understands that overcoming this illness is crucial not only for his future well-being and ability to be a good husband and father, but also for his ambition to compete at the highest level again in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – his fifth Games.
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 think he was that person, feeling he was ‘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 that in the beginning of their relationship, it was simpler to justify his actions by saying he was doing them for her. He admitted he didn’t value his own well-being much at the time and was more concerned with protecting her feelings than his own. Initially, claiming he was acting for her sake felt easier, but now he’s motivated by self-preservation.
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 grew. He admitted to People magazine that he always kept a black leather laptop bag nearby, filled with bottles of Jagermeister or vodka. He described needing to drink “every hour and a half to two hours,” and taking pills “every three or four hours.”
Despite everything, it didn’t hinder his achievements. “I wasn’t falling apart,” he explained. “Actually, I was incredibly productive – I wrote more songs during that time than I do today, and that’s what really frightened 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, and only this much from the bottle,’ and I’d even mark the bottle to keep track,” he remembered. “But it would only work for a couple of days—then someone would have a party and I’d start again.”
Looking back, I realized I needed help, and honestly, admitting that was tough. I finally checked into rehab on December 18th, 2011. It got to the point where I understood I couldn’t tackle this on my own. It was incredibly frustrating and embarrassing, because I’m usually a very strong-willed person, but this was one thing I just couldn’t seem to conquer, no matter how hard I tried.
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2026-01-05 17:22