5 Celebrities That Entered Alcohol Abuse Treatment

5 Celebrities That Entered Alcohol Abuse Treatment

5 Celebrities That Entered Alcohol Abuse Treatment

Celebrities may be more popular and far richer than the rest of us, but they’re still human. If a celebrity is struggling with alcoholism, for example, the best thing they can do is seek professional help and get admitted into an alcohol abuse treatment program. In fact, various celebrities have walked the path of recovery. Some may have successfully maintained their sobriety and may inspire other people to do the same. Searching for an alcohol abuse treatment program near Dallas, TX? Contact Santé Center for Healing by reaching out to our team online or calling 866.238.3154.

What Is Alcohol Abuse Treatment?

When the topic of professional alcohol abuse treatment comes up, most people typically think of 12-step programs or month-long inpatient rehab programs. However, there are many other options that exist — because while addiction is a chronic disease, it’s also different from case to case.  There is no one-size-fits-all solution. What may work for one person may not be a good fit for someone else. Most people start their recovery journey by consulting their primary care doctor, who will then refer them to reputable addiction treatment specialists or facilities. A primary care physician may also:

  • Assess if medications for alcohol may be appropriate
  • Evaluate a client’s drinking pattern 
  • Evaluate overall health
  • Help craft an addiction treatment plan

Three prescription medications are currently approved in the U.S. to help people reduce or quit drinking and prevent relapse situations. Types of addiction treatment also include behavioral therapy sessions that aim to change behavior through counseling. Finally, mutual-support groups also help. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other 12-step programs provide peer support. When combined with treatment led by medical professionals, they can offer valuable support.

Which Celebrities Have Gotten Admitted Into Alcohol Abuse Treatment?

1. Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck is a Grammy-winning actor, but most people don’t know about his early life. His father struggled with alcohol abuse, which Affleck then mirrored. He’s been open about his issues with alcohol. Affleck went to rehab for the first time in 2001 and has called addiction “a lifelong and difficult struggle.” Affleck’s alcohol addiction eventually led to a difficult divorce and a stay at a treatment center — his third time — in 2018. In a post on Instagram, the actor admitted to completing a 40-day inpatient program before transitioning into outpatient rehab. After getting professional help in 2018, Affleck said on social media, “If you have a problem, getting help is a sign of courage, not weakness or failure.” He has since been in the recovery process.

2. Zac Efron

Zac Efron confesses that becoming a celebrity at such a young age pushed him to abuse drugs and alcohol. Efron entered rehab twice in one year for alcohol addiction when filming Seth Rogen’s Neighbors. Professional help was needed because he failed to control his alcohol intake while on set. The actor wants people to know that addiction is “a never-ending struggle” but also that therapy and Alcoholics Anonymous have helped change his life.

3. Michael Phelps

Even the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time can struggle with alcohol addiction. In 2014, after his second DUI arrest, Michael Phelps made the difficult decision to take a break from swimming in order to attend a program that would provide him the help he needed “to better understand” himself. Phelps was admitted into a six-week inpatient rehab program. However, when asked publicly if he had an alcohol addiction, he responded, “I don’t know.”  In 2016, Phelps eventually clarified why he went to rehab, saying, “I checked myself in because I think I was at a point in my life where something needed to change.”

4. Kat Von D

Since 2008, celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D celebrates another year of sobriety when July comes around. On the 11th anniversary of her recovery from alcohol addiction, she wrote on social media that she hopes that others struggling with addiction may see her post and “realize that you’re not alone.” When asked what helped her decide to seek professional help, Von D credits her art and leaving behind the “addiction to dysfunction” many artists, musicians, and writers harbor.

5. Elizabeth Taylor

Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor abused prescription painkillers and alcohol for much of her life. For most of her professional life, the star would spend entire days on set too drunk to read her lines. Taylor eventually got herself admitted into an addiction treatment program at the Betty Ford rehab center in 1983. She’s said that she was the first celebrity to do so. After leaving the program, Taylor said, “Not being drunk is the only way I’m going to stay alive.” In 2011, she died from congestive heart failure.

Ready To Learn More About Santé Center for Healing’s Alcohol Abuse Treatment Program?

What is alcohol abuse treatment? It could be the difference between life or death for some alcoholics. If you’re looking for an alcohol abuse treatment program near Dallas, TX, contact Santé Center for Healing today. You can reach out to our team online or call 866.238.3154.