Matthew Perry: Fighting Addiction and the Path to Recovery
12 august 2025 в 00:50
Although many know Matthew Perry for his work on the TV show «Friends», - the Hollywood actor had many ups and downs in his personal life, struggling with addiction before passing away on October 28 at the age of 54. Originally from Massachusetts, Matthew detailed his battle with drugs and alcohol in his 2022 memoir «Friends, Lovers, and a Big Terrible Thing».
Matthew said he spent over 9 million dollars trying to overcome his addiction through rehab courses, therapy, and more. However, he used his experience to help others in similar situations.
«The best thing about me, undoubtedly, is that if someone comes to me and says, 'I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?' I can say 'yes' and help and do it», - the actor said during an interview on a podcast with Tom Power in 2022. «When I die… I want that to be the first thing mentioned. And I will spend the rest of my life proving it».
Continue reading to learn more about his substance abuse, his path to recovery, and how he felt before his death.
Nearly three decades ago, in 1997, Matthew was involved in a jet ski accident and soon became addicted to Vicodin, a narcotic known for its pain-relieving effects. After the accident, his addiction to Vicodin led to alcohol abuse, according to US Weekly, and in the same year, he went to rehab in Minnesota. Despite attempts to overcome his addiction, Matthew was only able to stay sober for a short period of time before relapsing.
Three years after his first rehab stint, in 2000, Matthew was hospitalized for pancreatitis caused by alcohol, according to the same source. After a two-week hospitalization, Matthew began a «detox» on the set of «Friends», - with a noticeably changed appearance in the sixth and seventh seasons. The popular TV star repeatedly broke his sobriety and visited rehab centers over 15 times throughout his journey.
It wasn’t until 2002 that Matthew spoke to The New York Times about his struggles and admitted he needed help.
«When [fame] comes, it’s like Disneyland for a while. For me, it lasted about eight months, this feeling of 'I've made it, I’m ecstatic, there are no problems in the world.' And then you realize it doesn’t give you anything, it definitely doesn’t fill any holes in your life», - Matthew told the publication, a year after another recovery. «I wasn’t sober because I wanted to be. I was sober because I was afraid I would die the next day».
Matthew also struggled with alcohol abuse throughout his life. He started drinking at 14 and soon began drinking «every day» by the age of 18, according to ABC News.
«I had this weird rule that I would never drink on set», - the star of «17 Again» said. «But I would show up to work in extreme hangovers. It’s so awful to feel that way and still work and be funny».
Matthew spent the next two decades of his life in rehab centers.
According to Entertainment Tonight, Matthew became sober in 2021, just a few months before filming the viral special episode of «Friends» on HBO Max. He said he remained sober in his 2022 book, explaining: «My therapist said, 'When you next think about taking oxycodone, just imagine you’ll have a colostomy bag for the rest of your life… And a little window opened, and I crawled through it, and I no longer want oxycodone».
Earlier, in 2018, Matthew was hospitalized for three months due to a stomach perforation. He then wrote on Twitter about the difficult moment in a humorous way. «Three months in a hospital bed. Check», - he wrote at the time.
In November 2022, he appeared on The View and told host Whoopi Goldberg that he was «feeling very good» and that his life was «going great».
Around the same time, Matthew appeared in a candid interview with Diane Sawyer and told her about his struggles, promoting his book. He detailed what had happened to him
Matthew said he spent over 9 million dollars trying to overcome his addiction through rehab courses, therapy, and more. However, he used his experience to help others in similar situations.
«The best thing about me, undoubtedly, is that if someone comes to me and says, 'I can’t stop drinking, can you help me?' I can say 'yes' and help and do it», - the actor said during an interview on a podcast with Tom Power in 2022. «When I die… I want that to be the first thing mentioned. And I will spend the rest of my life proving it».
Continue reading to learn more about his substance abuse, his path to recovery, and how he felt before his death.
Nearly three decades ago, in 1997, Matthew was involved in a jet ski accident and soon became addicted to Vicodin, a narcotic known for its pain-relieving effects. After the accident, his addiction to Vicodin led to alcohol abuse, according to US Weekly, and in the same year, he went to rehab in Minnesota. Despite attempts to overcome his addiction, Matthew was only able to stay sober for a short period of time before relapsing.
Three years after his first rehab stint, in 2000, Matthew was hospitalized for pancreatitis caused by alcohol, according to the same source. After a two-week hospitalization, Matthew began a «detox» on the set of «Friends», - with a noticeably changed appearance in the sixth and seventh seasons. The popular TV star repeatedly broke his sobriety and visited rehab centers over 15 times throughout his journey.
It wasn’t until 2002 that Matthew spoke to The New York Times about his struggles and admitted he needed help.
«When [fame] comes, it’s like Disneyland for a while. For me, it lasted about eight months, this feeling of 'I've made it, I’m ecstatic, there are no problems in the world.' And then you realize it doesn’t give you anything, it definitely doesn’t fill any holes in your life», - Matthew told the publication, a year after another recovery. «I wasn’t sober because I wanted to be. I was sober because I was afraid I would die the next day».
Matthew also struggled with alcohol abuse throughout his life. He started drinking at 14 and soon began drinking «every day» by the age of 18, according to ABC News.
«I had this weird rule that I would never drink on set», - the star of «17 Again» said. «But I would show up to work in extreme hangovers. It’s so awful to feel that way and still work and be funny».
Matthew spent the next two decades of his life in rehab centers.
According to Entertainment Tonight, Matthew became sober in 2021, just a few months before filming the viral special episode of «Friends» on HBO Max. He said he remained sober in his 2022 book, explaining: «My therapist said, 'When you next think about taking oxycodone, just imagine you’ll have a colostomy bag for the rest of your life… And a little window opened, and I crawled through it, and I no longer want oxycodone».
Earlier, in 2018, Matthew was hospitalized for three months due to a stomach perforation. He then wrote on Twitter about the difficult moment in a humorous way. «Three months in a hospital bed. Check», - he wrote at the time.
In November 2022, he appeared on The View and told host Whoopi Goldberg that he was «feeling very good» and that his life was «going great».
Around the same time, Matthew appeared in a candid interview with Diane Sawyer and told her about his struggles, promoting his book. He detailed what had happened to him
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
