One thing is for certain, the rapper Eminem is not afraid to share his recovery to the world. Twelve consecutive years of sobriety from drugs and alcohol gives him the ability to stand up and be proud of his accomplishment. After nearly dying from an overdose and deciding that drugs were no longer an option, Eminem decided he wanted to stay around for his kids and his fans.
The Awards
Being known for his dynamic lyrics and his powerful delivery of them, Eminem rose to fame in the late 1990s after signing a contract with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment. Eminem achieved mainstream status with his 2000 and 2002 albums that garnered him Grammy awards for both.
Eminem also starred in the movie 8 Mile, with Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy, and Kim Basinger. He went on to receive an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Lose Yourself,” becoming the first rap artist to win the award.
The Story
The subject of his songs glorified drug and alcohol use that fans accepted worldwide because of his rap stature. Although these songs were constructed out of his pain, the drugs and alcohol helped him cope with his family being torn apart, well into his fame. Even though he was abusing prescription drugs and alcohol, he believed he was not addicted because he did not shoot dope, smoke crack, or snort lines.
He was functioning on the outside while he was dying on the inside. To make matters worse, Eminem ingested copious amounts of Methadone, which he thought was Vicodin. He overdosed on what was equal to four bags of heroin that he also mixed with Ambien. After avoiding death, Eminem still needed to do more research and prove to himself that he could not stay sober alone.
In April of 2008, Eminem surrendered to his addiction, and he has publicly stayed sober ever since. For someone who had been controversial in the media for years and battled drug and alcohol addiction, twelve years of recovery is a fantastic achievement. Eminem has been an excellent example of what can happen when you put a mustard seed of willingness into recovery and watch it grow.
He went from rapping about “Relapse” to rapping his “Recovery” for all to hear. Eminem shows his unity in recovery by putting down lyrics for everyone to grab onto, “I’m not afraid, to take a stand, everybody, come take my hand come.”
Valiant Living wants to congratulate Eminem on twelve years of sobriety! If you, or someone you know, is struggling with drugs and alcohol, Valiant can help you take a stand against your addiction. Through evidence-based therapy options and the endless adventure of Colorado, we foster connection, encouraging clients to get connected to themselves, their peers, their families, and their higher power. Call us today for more information:
