The actor revealed that he has been to rehab 15 times over the years and now knows how to stay sober
Matthew Perry spoke about his addiction to the world of drugs and alcoholism, on the occasion of a book he wrote, which will be released in early November.
The 53-year-old ‘Friends’ star, beloved as Chandler, opened up to People about his dark journey into the world of abuse.
“I wanted to speak when I felt confident about myself,” says the well-known actor. “I had to wait until I was sober and away from the ‘disease’ of alcoholism and addiction to write it all down. I was interested in my own experiences helping other people too.”
Perry also made a shocking revelation. A few years ago, when he was 49, he almost died from an opioid overdose. He spent two weeks in a coma and five months in hospital and had to use a colostomy bag for nine months.
“The doctors told my family I had a 2% chance of living,” she recalls. When Perry joined “Friends” he was 24 years old and his alcohol addiction was just beginning to surface. “I could handle it, sort of. However, by the time I got to 34, I had really gotten into a lot of trouble,” he admits. “There were years when I was sober during that time. Season 9 was the year I got sober. And guess what season I got nominated for best actor? I was like, “That has to tell me something.”
Although Perry tried to hide his condition, the dramatic changes in his appearance each year reflected his state of sobriety. His friends and co-stars in “Friends”, as he says, showed understanding and patience. “They’re like penguins. Penguins, in nature, when someone is sick or when someone is injured, the other penguins surround them and support them. They walk around him until the penguin can walk on his own. The actors did the same for me.”
He has been to rehab 15 times over the years and now knows how to stay sober. He has also had 14 surgeries on his stomach so far. “There are many reminders to stay sober. All I have to do is look at my body,” she adds.
His motivation to stop taking drugs? “My therapist,” replied the famous actor. “The next time you think about taking Oxycontin, think about having a colostomy bag for the rest of your life,” she remembers telling him. “And a little window opened and I left this nightmare.”
Through his book, the actor wishes to help other people who have also struggled with addiction. “Everything is in there. But it is also a story full of hope. Because here I am…” concludes Matthew Perry.
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