Eminem celebrated 16 years of sobriety on April 20, sharing this milestone with his Instagram and X followers.
Enimem posted an image of his hand holding a sobriety coin bearing the words “Unity Service Recovery” and the image of a tree, opting to leave the image without a caption.
The rapper has been open about his past struggles with addiction, which included substances like Vicodin, Ambien, and Valium. His turning point came after a nearly fatal methadone overdose in 2007, which sharply pivoted him towards recovery.
In a 2009 Vibe interview, Eminem discussed the severity of his addiction, detailing his daily consumption of massive amounts of pills and his loss of control over his substance use.
Reflecting on his earlier days, Eminem recounted trips to Tijuana to smuggle pills back into the United States. He described a harrowing incident at customs, where the individual ahead of him was apprehended and searched, leading to a tense moment for him and his friends, who were carrying pills.
“This should have been one of the first signs for me,” he remarked in reflection, acknowledging his denial of the addiction problem at the time.
Eminem also noted how fame exacerbated his access to drugs, with people frequently offering them to him for free during tours. Eventually, he admitted to liking the drugs too much and not knowing how to stop.
His journey to sobriety has been challenging but transformative, making him a figure of resilience and hope for many battling similar issues. Eminem’s openness and continued commitment to sobriety have sustained his career and deepened the respect he commands as both a global music icon and an individual.
