Rick Harrison Reveals Heartbreaking Regrets After Son’s Tragic Death

Rick Harrison can’t put a cost on grief.

Rick Harrison, one of the hosts on Pawn Stars, shared insights about his grief following the tragic death of his son Adam Harrison, who passed away on January 19, 2024, at the young age of 39 due to a fentanyl overdose.

Rick shared during his March 19 interview on In Depth With Graham Bensinger, “I often think about him daily.” In his twenties, he struggled with drug addiction. I took him to rehab numerous times. Every time he was doing well and then it would all come crashing down again. It became incredibly severe. Apparently, it wasn’t heroin that took his life; instead, he unfortunately succumbed to fentanyl.

Rick, who was once married to both Adam (Corey “Big Hoss” Harrison) and Kim Harrison, as well as having a son named Jake Harrison with Tracy Harrison, admitted that he started doubting himself following Adam’s demise, even though he had made every effort to support him during his struggle.

The owner of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop shared that losing a child makes you question everything, he said. It’s like a recurring thought: ‘Was there something I could have done differently? Was there something I missed?’ These thoughts keep running through your mind all the time. Every day, I can’t help but think about him.

Rick openly acknowledged that there were times when he wondered whether he could have managed Adam’s prolonged battle with addiction more effectively.

He questioned if there might be another way, but he was certain he had acted correctly, “Is there something else I could have done?” he pondered. “But then the thoughts start creeping in: ‘What if I’d just grabbed him and kept him from going? What if I took him to Oregon, far away so he couldn’t return?’ So many ideas flood your mind. Losing a child is the most painful thing there is.

Rick shared that following Adam’s break-in at his house, he initially thought that arresting him would provide some resolution. Yet, now he questions whether a more stern approach might not have been sufficient.

Rick mused that perhaps a two-month imprisonment might reform him, yet he instantly relapsed. It’s heartbreaking to try to instill discipline but sometimes, you just can’t foresee an overdose. You want to be firm with them, and I certainly did, but I never expected something like that would occur.

After Adam’s passing, Rick found himself cherishing the happy memories he had of his son and creating new ones with his remaining children and grandchildren in the year that followed.

Rick reflects on the pleasant moments, considers his other children, a new grandchild, and his other grandchildren. In total, he has four grandchildren. He encourages everyone to continue moving forward. He cherishes what he has, as it’s not always there. He makes time to spend with his kids whenever possible. He speaks to all of them on the phone almost every day, and deeply loves each one of them.

He also said, “Savor life, do so with your loved ones, your friends. Happiness isn’t something difficult to find.

For a look at celebrities who’ve opened up about sobriety journeys, keep reading…

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

During the March 4th episode of the Bravo’s Hot Mic podcast, Jax confessed, “I’ve been struggling with addiction, mainly to cocaine. It’s tough for me to admit it openly.

He mentioned, “I’ve had periods of struggling with this issue, off and on, since I turned 23. Now, at 45, I’m still dealing with it. At certain points, I managed to avoid it altogether, but there have been other instances where I found myself immersed in it heavily.

Apart from Jax, he decided to stop consuming alcohol, stating, “I’m not sure if I have an alcohol issue, but they tend to go together. I can’t use cocaine without drinking first. Consequently, I chose to quit both. I am happy to share that I am currently 82 or 83 days clean, which is the longest stretch in my life without either substance.

In 2022, the actor who played Spider-Man in “No Way Home” decided to quit drinking alcohol as he felt trapped by its influence. On the “On Purpose with Jay Shetty” podcast, Holland openly admitted to his addiction, stating, “I was definitely addicted to alcohol, and I’m not trying to sugarcoat it.” He further added that anyone who drinks a beer daily might be grappling with a small problem related to alcohol.

Afterward, it hits you that maybe one more drink was too many, the actor added. The following morning, you’d find yourself with a pounding headache.

After adopting a new lifestyle, Holland found that his sleep improved significantly and he was able to manage issues more effectively.

He revealed, “Issues that used to stress me out on the set, I could handle more easily now. My mental focus was significantly improved. I felt more energetic and healthier.

In a more casual and straightforward manner: The main character from “Hunt for Red October” seldom talks about his alcohol recovery that started nearly four decades ago.

In his podcast interview on May 2024, he mentioned that the topic doesn’t come up frequently but occasionally, if it seems appropriate. He also shared that he has been sober for 39 years, achieving this milestone on February 23, 1985.

Discussing his life following his relocation from New York City to Los Angeles in 1983, Alec described a challenging two-year struggle with addiction. Essentially, he admitted to using an enormous amount of cocaine over that period – so much that it felt like he had snorted lines from New York to Saturn. He continued by saying that, at the time, cocaine was as common as coffee, and everyone seemed to be using it constantly.

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 mentioned that New York brings him a sense of tranquility. As he strolls around, he discovers new details he’s never seen before – like the intricate doors on buildings that had previously gone unnoticed by him. He spends time with friends over meals and coffees in his hometown.

In an interview with the New York Times in April 2024, the actress from The Princess Diaries announced that she has been sober for over five years. To her, reaching this point is a significant achievement.

Her understanding was straightforward. She confessed, “I knew instinctively it wasn’t suitable for me.” And it seemed overly intense to have to say, ‘Absolutely not?’ But absolutely not. If you’re sensitive or react severely to something, you don’t debate it. So I chose to stop debating it.

She expressed her satisfaction with the choice she made, adding, “I find myself thriving in this situation.” Furthermore, she explained, “It served as a catalyst for me, not a place of dwelling or sorrow.” In other words, she doesn’t enjoy dwelling on past regrets.

During her acceptance speech at the 2018 Woman of the Year Award ceremony hosted by the Peggy Albrecht Friendly House, a rehabilitation center for women overcoming substance and alcohol addiction, Moore discussed the self-damaging trajectory that almost halted her professional journey.

In simpler terms, the individual shared that there are significant instances in our lives which mold us and determine our paths. During the early stages of their career, they found themselves heading towards self-destruction, despite achieving success. Regardless of their accomplishments, they never felt satisfied or worthy. This self-destructive behavior led them to a critical juncture, and it wasn’t immediately apparent why. They speculated that it might have been some higher power guiding them.

In 2012, Moore acknowledged her gratitude towards two people who weren’t very acquainted with her for presenting a sort of turning point in her life. She humorously stated, “Unless I was deceased, I had to show up,” implying their demand. Furthermore, she mentioned that she received an opportunity to alter the trajectory of her life before it crumbled completely.

It was evident that others noticed aspects of me that I wasn’t aware of myself,” Moore observed. “I am incredibly thankful for this insight, as it was their faith in me that enabled me to be where I am today.

Cyrus revealed in 2022 that she has been recuperating from her Xanax dependency since 2020. In an interview with Rolling Stone, she expressed, “Xanax provided the structure I required during a time when I desperately needed it, as I didn’t want to be aimlessly wandering in my thoughts.” She added, “It gave me optimism.

The singer commented, “When I believed I could momentarily mute the world and dull your sorrow, the moment had passed.

She mentioned that her friends at one point seemed to tacitly approve of her drug abuse and it turned into a deep, endless abyss for her. However, during the pandemic, Cyrus recognized difficulties and felt she wasn’t emotionally engaged. “I found myself dozing off frequently,” she explained, “and struggling to stay awake or keep my eyes open, as I had sunk so deeply.

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

16 years ago, the former cast member of “Parenthood” had remained sober until a motorbike mishap in 2020 triggered a relapse, leading him to consume Vicodin.

For the past two months or so, it seems like he’s been using them quite a bit, he mentioned during his Armchair Expert podcast. He’s permitted to do so in certain doses due to a prescription, but he also increases this with something extra.

As an utterly devoted fanatic, I can’t stand it! I find myself entangled in a web of deception, misleading others. Deep down, I recognize the need to break free from this vicious cycle. However, my tolerance is escalating at an alarming rate, and now I’m consuming around eight 30s daily – a quantity that I know will lead to a brutal withdrawal. The fear is creeping in, and loneliness is starting to gnaw at me. I carry this massive secret, an unbearable weight on my shoulders.

In the year 2018, the actress who starred in Halloween openly discussed her decade-long struggle with opiate addiction that started in the late ’80s following a minor cosmetic surgery to address her family’s genetic puffy eyes. This led to a prescription that significantly impacted her life. She confessed to People magazine, “I had a 10-year span filled with stealing and deceit, yet nobody knew or suspected anything.

In the summer of 1998, when her sister visited and brought painkillers prescribed for a rib injury, Curtis realized she had hit rock bottom. As she recalled, tears welling up, “I knew she kept them in our guest room closet during her stay.” She confessed that she had taken all her opiates before her sister left, knowing she would notice the missing pills when packing. Upon her return, Curtis’s sister embraced her, expressing love and concern, unwilling to stand by as Curtis self-destructed.

On February 3, 1999, she went to her initial gathering, and on the same day, she shared her fight with her filmmaker spouse, Christopher Guest. He found it hard to believe he hadn’t noticed before, as Curtis explained. Since then, she has remained sober.

Previously battling alcohol and drug addiction, Barrymore publicly announced in 2021 that she had achieved a significant milestone in her recovery. On the show CBS Mornings, she revealed, “For the first time in a long while, I’m proud to say I haven’t taken a sip of alcohol in two and a half years. It’s something I realized no longer benefited me in my life.

She remarked, “It’s quite amusing. When we unmask ourselves, disclose our deepest truths, and expose what we’ve labored on diligently, it feels incredibly freeing yet exposed in a tender way.

Later on, Barrymore clarified to the Los Angeles Times that she avoids the term “sober” as she doesn’t wish for others to perceive her as a “spotless Puritan,” indicating someone who is excessively righteous or moral.

In the year 2023, she admitted, “For a long time, I was telling myself, ‘I’ll conquer this, I’ll find a solution,’ but eventually, it dawned on me: ‘This thing, I never truly mastered it, and I probably never will.’

During the 2000s, the actor from “A Star Is Born” grappled with an issue of cocaine addiction. However, his friend Will Arnett intervened and addressed his problematic behavior directly at that time.

During his 2022 interview on the Smartless podcast, Cooper shared that it was the first moment he became aware of his struggle with substance abuse, an experience he would never forget.

Citing Arnett as the catalyst, Cooper explained, “He bravely had a tough talk with me, which led me to contemplate and eventually choose to alter the course of my life.

In easier terms, the main character from Fight Club battled alcohol addiction for quite some time before being assisted by Cooper in achieving sobriety. He expressed his gratitude to Cooper during the 2020 National Board of Review Annual Awards when Cooper presented him with an award, stating that he’s enjoyed each day since then.

In September 2023, the former star of Cruel Intentions posted on Instagram that this was “the longest stretch since my teenage years without any form of nicotine or cannabis, and other substances, in my body.

He expressed gratitude for the liberation from addiction and the substances he was dependent upon. He described his current state as being clear-minded, sober, and spiritually fulfilled – a feeling that is truly satisfying.

Reflecting back on my remarkable six-year journey of sobriety during my tours in 2018, little did my admirers know that I harbored a secret struggle. Later in the same year, I confessed this private battle through the poignant single “Sober,” revealing an unexpected relapse in my personal journey towards abstinence.

She apologized, saying, “Mama, I’m truly sorry I’ve lost control again, and Daddy, please forgive me for the alcohol spilled on the floor. To those who have always stood by me, I’m sorry, but we’ve traveled this difficult path before, and once more, I’ve lost my sobriety.” She expressed this through her song.

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

Two weeks ago, she posted on Instagram: “I’ve consistently been open about my struggles with addiction.” What I’ve discovered is that this ailment doesn’t simply vanish or weaken over time; it’s an ongoing battle I’m still working to conquer…Right now, I need space to mend and concentrate on maintaining my sobriety and recovery path. The affection you’ve all shown me will never be erased from my memory, and I eagerly anticipate the day when I can say I’ve triumphed over this challenge. I promise to keep fighting.

2018 marked a period when she reminisced about overcoming her struggles with substance and sexual addictions, particularly alcohol and intimacy. “My addictive tendencies fluctuate. They shift from one thing to another,” she explained. At a younger age, she admitted that there were indications of a potential sexual addiction, as she believed that sex might have been the solution to all her problems. She also opened up about her realization that she had fallen into a harmful drinking habit.

She recalled hitting a low point when she was alone at home, with two bottles of wine already consumed and reaching for a third. It made her think, “Whoa, you’re drinking your third bottle of wine all by yourself? Maybe there’s an issue here that needs addressing.

She explained, “I chose to quit abruptly, or ‘go cold turkey.’ You see, I tend to indulge in things excessively and need to stay vigilant. I can easily become engrossed in various activities. It’s not the action itself that matters, but the reason behind it. Why are you doing it? It’s the behavior connected to it that requires scrutiny. If you enjoy having a lot of sex, that’s fine, but consider why you’re engaging in so much of it.

One of the Backstreet Boys band members experimented with drugs for the first time prior to shooting the music video for “The Call” in 2000. In a later interview on Good Morning America, he admitted that he was extremely energetic during the filming due to using drugs. He achieved sobriety in 2021 and experienced numerous positive changes within a year, such as shedding 32 pounds over a seven-month period by eliminating alcohol and fast food from his diet.

In September 2022, he stated to Today that alcohol led to an increase in his weight, but it also negatively impacted his emotional well-being.

Following Mac Miller’s unexpected demise, the rapper formerly known as Bow Wow admitted on Twitter about his past struggle with codeine addiction. In a series of tweets, he said: “Young ones, stop messing with these foolish drugs.” He confessed that during the production of the ‘Face Off’ album with Omarion, he was addicted to lean (codeine syrup) and used it almost every day.

On the UCP tour with Chris Brown, Bow Wow admitted to sipping 4-ounces of codeine at least seven times a day. He was addicted until their show in Cincinnati where he overdosed and ended up in the hospital. He described the experience as unbearable pain, saying his stomach has never been the same since then.

He continued, “I almost missed shows because I was high and sick! That’s not cool! Quit that stuff! Be a good son or daughter. Be the best you. I will start being more vocal. We need to save the youth from dying early. Parents, watch your kids. Talk to them. We want you all to live, man.”

He concluded by urging his fans: “Stay away from drugs. Smarten up, tighten up. We can’t afford to lose any more of you. Not one! I love all of you. Young artists everywhere, don’t follow trends. Break the cycle. PEACE.

In 2018, the singer openly shared her struggles with addiction in both her fourth album “No Shame” and memoir “My Thoughts Exactly”. As revealed by her, she was heavily dependent on cocaine and alcohol, often reaching a state of being “alarmingly drunk”. Notably, an incident at Kate Hudson’s Halloween party, where she accidentally collided with Orlando Bloom, leading to self-knockout, prompted an intervention by Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin.

In those challenging times, I found myself yearning for something that would alleviate my distress. One gloomy day, as I awoke, the thought crossed my mind: “Perhaps it’s time to explore heroin, as nothing else seems to be providing the relief I seek.

Throughout the 1980s, an actor known for his role in “The Parent Trap” struggled with a cocaine addiction that eventually led him to rehab in 1990. In a later interview on “Today,” he shared that he grew up during the ’60s and ’70s when there was a much more lenient view of drug use compared to today.

In his 2018 admission, he confessed that cocaine use was a near-daily occurrence for him during the ’80s. He often found himself pleading with God to take away his addiction, promising to never do it again if only he could avoid using for just one more hour, as he had to be at work soon. However, by 4 in the afternoon, he would rationalize that it wasn’t so bad. This can be rephrased as: In 2018, he openly acknowledged his heavy use of cocaine throughout the ’80s. He frequently begged God to help him quit, promising abstinence if only he could avoid using for an hour before work. Yet, by 4 o’clock in the afternoon, he would convince himself that the addiction wasn’t so problematic.

He shared an intense moment of personal revelation, which he referred to as a profound “white light” event. During this experience, he envisioned either his own demise or losing all that held significance to him. He needed to find words to convey this to his partner at the time, Meg Ryan, and subsequently sought professional help. This marked the conclusion of his tumultuous relationship with cocaine.

Following an occurrence in Newport Beach where Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte attempted to break down his hotel room door, Lochte chose to seek treatment in 2018. According to a statement from his representative, “Ryan has been struggling with alcohol addiction for quite some time now, and unfortunately, it’s developed into a harmful habit for him.” “He has realized he needs professional help to conquer this issue, and he will be seeking that assistance immediately.

Ryan understands that overcoming this illness is crucial for him to avoid future mistakes, so he can strive to be the best husband and father possible, and if he aims to compete again in the pool during the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

One significant factor that influenced the former Parenthood star’s decision to quit drinking was his relationship with Melanie Lynskey, as it played a crucial role in his sobriety journey, despite the common advice that one should not get sober for someone else.

During his interview on The Drew Barrymore Show in March 2023, he stated, “At one point, I realized how exceptional she was and believed she would be perfect for someone truly deserving. However, I didn’t think I was that person; I felt a bit unstable.

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

In the initial stages of our relationship, I found it simpler to express that my actions were motivated by her well-being, as at that time, my self-worth didn’t feel particularly high. I was more concerned about avoiding causing her pain rather than inflicting harm upon myself. However, over time, I’ve come to realize that my focus should be on doing what’s best for me. Now, I’m dedicating my efforts to prioritizing my own well-being.

For nearly a decade now, the nation’s singer has managed to stay sober, but it was a long and challenging journey to reach this point. His struggle with alcohol and painkillers started shortly after his high school graduation, and it didn’t ease even as his career flourished. He always carried a black leather laptop bag containing bottles of Jagermeister or vodka, keeping them within easy reach at all times. As he shared in an earlier interview with People, every hour and a half to two hours, it was time for a couple of strong drinks from the bottle. And every three or four hours, he would take one or two pills.

He confessed that it didn’t hinder his achievements in any way. “I wasn’t clumsy or struggling throughout the day,” he pointed out. “I was operating at full capacity – I composed more tunes back then than I do currently. That was the frightening aspect.

In late 2011, he was admitted to the hospital due to pancreatitis, and doctors warned him that if he didn’t stop drinking, he might not make it to his next birthday. However, he continued to procrastinate and attempted to moderate his consumption on his own, thinking things like, “Alright, I’ll only take two pills today. I’ll only drink this much from my bottle and mark the bottle.” This strategy worked for a few days, but then someone would organize a party.

After realizing he needed assistance, he checked into rehab on December 18, 2011. “I came to the point where I knew I couldn’t handle it alone,” Gilbert explained. “It enraged and humiliated me. I am a determined individual, but that was the one aspect of my life I just couldn’t control.

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2025-03-20 16:48

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