Alcohol And Drug Addiction: Drew Barrymore Writes About The Importance And Effects of Sobering Up

Drew Barrymore recently shared that the key to freedom from the torture of guilt for her was giving up alcohol. In December’s edition of the Charlie’s Angels actress’ monthly magazine, she discussed her three-and-a-half years’ journey of sobriety.

As written in the self-titled magazine, Drew called her detachment from alcohol “one of the most liberating things” in her life. Only when she gave up alcohol was she able to get rid of the guilt and dysfunction that tortured her for so long.

Having risen to fame at the young age of six, the now 47-year-old actress shared that she battled not only alcohol addiction in her youth but also drug addiction. In 1989 when she was 14, she told People that she started drinking at age nine and smoked her first pot at 10. By the time she was 12, she had started using cocaine. At the same age, she was briefly blacklisted from Hollywood as she had developed a bad reputation. And when she was 13, she underwent drug rehabilitation treatment twice.

The E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial star recently told Paris Hilton on her show that her mother had sent her to a mental institution where she had to stay for 18 months. “I was in a place for a year and a half called Van Nuys Psychiatric,” she shared, explaining that it was a place with strict rules and “you couldn’t mess around in there.” 

Last year, The Drew Barrymore Show took Drew to the mental health facility as part of her visit to important places from her past. She was seen crying as the thoughts of her past and the wonderful turnout her life experienced collided in her mind.

At age 14, the Never Been Kissed actress was granted legal emancipation from her mother after a suicide attempt. After that, she worked to get clean and started her journey in Hollywood afresh.

Decades later, Drew can look back and talk about the shackles of alcohol and substance addiction that held her younger self bound. Using her story as an inspiration to readers, the talk show host and author advised readers to put themselves first. “One of the bravest things you can do is slay those dragons and finally change an awful cycle in which you’ve found yourself stuck. For me, it was to stop drinking,” she stated.

The renewed star and mom also added that through the fight to stay sober, it is important to celebrate oneself. “Take a moment, take a breath, and give yourself a squeeze,” she encouraged. “We’re all just doing our best out here. And that in and of itself is something to celebrate.”