Matthew Perry's Addiction Struggle Essay Example

“So no one told you life was gonna be this way,” no one told Matthew Perry that he would be fighting the biggest battle of his life. Matthew Perry is widely known for playing witty and sarcastic Chandler Bing on the 90’s TV show Friends. Matthew Perry is a successful actor and comedian with a net worth of $80 million. He has accomplished numerous awards such as an Emmy, Teen Choice, Huading, and a nomination for a Golden Globe. Perry fell victim to an addiction to alcohol and Vicodin pain pills. He liked the way the substances alleviate his pain, ultimately building up his tolerance. This led to higher doses in a short amount of time. Along with the heavy drinking, Perry became malnourished due to neglect in his consumption habits. 

Alcohol has had a presence in Perry’s life for a while, even before he started working on Friends. His alcohol consumption began to increase along with his fame. Perry soon was involved in a jet ski accident in 1997 which led to the use of Vicodin pain pills. When the effects of the pills began to lessen, he increased his dosage and continued to heavily consume alcohol. Due to his substance abuse, Perry revealed in an interview that he couldn’t recall seasons 3-6 of Friends. The success of Friends had only added fuel to the fire of his unhealthy habits. While filming, he suffered overwhelming feelings of loneliness from his alcohol use. After the accident, Perry never saw Vicodin becoming a part of his life. In 2000, Perry was admitted to the hospital for pancreatitis caused by his abuse of Vicodin, alcohol, and malnourishment. He lost a significant amount of weight which became noticeable in season 3 of Friends. Perry continued to spiral downward as he crashed a Porsche into an unoccupied house the day he left the hospital. He could no longer hide it and his co-stars. In 2001 Perry hit rock bottom and was admitted into rehab. Perry didn’t join rehab because he wanted to, he lived in fear of dying the next day. He successfully completed rehab with a strong desire to continue his dream of entertainment and comedy. His co-stars were by his side with unconditional support. Perry has stayed sober but admitted himself back into rehab as an extra measure in 2011. Perry’s new outlook on life gave him a happily ever after with more stability. “The thing is, if I don’t have sobriety, I don’t have anything.” -Matthew Perry..