Call our Free 24/7 Helpline Now

Childhood Drug Addiction Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore is one of the most well known and busy actors of the last twenty five years.  Acting has truly been a lifelong career; nearly fifty films since she was five years old.  She inherited two important legacies from her family – acting talent and drug addiction.  She endured years of painful addiction during her tender years, including several visits to a drug rehab and suicide attempts.

Drews Early Start Abusing Drugs In Childhood

Accounts seem to vary, but Drew was reportedly smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol as young as nine years old.  She was then smoking pot at age ten and doing cocaine at age twelve.  Let’s just stop for a second and soak that up.  Nine.  Ten.  Twelve.  Those are unbelievably young ages to be using illegal and mind altering drugs.

To put a little context with this, Drew’s dad never apparently lived with her and her mother.  Drew’s mother also worked evenings as a waitress.  With the odd schedule, an absent father (with a history of drug addiction), a strong family history of drug and alcohol addiction, and the other-wordly atmosphere of Hollywood, it’s not as hard to see how this situation could lead to trouble.

Drew Barrymore Goes To Drug Rehab Several Times In Search of Sobriety

An interview she had with People magazine almost twenty years ago reveals that Drew went to one particular drug treatment center several times as a teen.  She spent a lot of time in denial that she had a problem.  And after she had gone to drug rehab a few times, she still experienced relapses.  She indicated that she was taking her sobriety one day at a time and was very proud of her accomplishment.  Another source says she never relapsed after her mid-teen years were over.

Like many drug addicts, Drew has some relationship issues with her mother and father.  Her father died in 2004, and she was fortunately able to spend some good time with him.  Her relationship with her mother also went through a transformation.  At one time, Drew’s mom became her manager, which seemed to cloud things even more.

Drew Fights For Sobriety And Keeps It

Though Drew certainly went through some very rough years, she seems to have kept her sobriety for a long time.  Though she has done some quirky and questionable things as a celebrity, there have been no reports of her relapsing into drug use.  She seems to have found good work that matches her talents, service and charity efforts she believes in, and good people around her.

It’s easy to say that since she’s a celebrity, of course she’d find good work, charity groups, and friends.  But remember that her celebrity was part of the formula that got her into drug addiction.  If you take away her famous name, the plan is still solid for preventing relapse – good work, generous acts, and a solid healthy social network.  Does she go to support groups and see a counselor now and then?  Who knows?  Her celebrity status may allow her to do those types of things privately.  But you can’t argue with the general plan she has going.

Inspiration For Gaining Your Sobriety At Drug Rehab

Drew Barrymore is certainly a celebrity, but she was once a young person with a lot of pain.  Many drug addicts can relate to this.  She went to drug rehab several times and finally found a life path that worked for her.  If her attitude towards recovery and success staying sober is inspiring to you, find out more about drug rehab.  You can find sobriety and keep it too when you give drug rehab a chance.

Where do calls go?

Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser: ARK Behavioral Health, Recovery Helpline, Alli Addiction Services.

By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.