Eminem celebrates being sober for 15 years
On 4/20, legendary rapper Eminem celebrated fifteen years sober and fans are delighted for him.
Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III, is regarded by many as the most influential rapper in the business.
Tracks such as 'The Real Slim Shady', 'Sing for the Moment', 'Under the Influence' and 'Cleanin' Out My Closest' are just some of the hits that helped him reach stardom.
But while it may have seemed that Eminem was on top of the world at that point, he was actually battling a crippling addiction.
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The artist has been rather open about his battles and demons in the past, revealing he was once taking up to 30 Vicodin (an opioid that treats severe pain) a day as well as 'anywhere from 40 to 60 Valium' (a benzodiazepine that can help people be calm).
During the documentary How To Make Money Selling Drugs, Eminem said: "I don't know at what point exactly it started to be a problem. I just remember liking it more and more."
The 50-year-old explained how he didn't believe taking prescription pills put him in the category of being an addict.
He added: "People tried to tell me that I had a problem. I would say, 'Get that f***ing person outta here'.
"I'm not out there shooting heroin. I'm not out there f***ing putting coke up my nose. I'm not smoking crack."
It got a lot worse for the rapper after that though, as he developed insomnia in the early 2000s.
Following that, a friend introduced him to Ambien (a medication used to help people sleep), which acted as a gateway to other prescription pills.
In 2007, Eminem hit rock bottom as he overdosed on methadone, a moment which was a defining moment in his recovery.
Eminem opened up about the horrifying experience with MTV: "The doctors told me I'd done the equivalent of four bags of heroin... Had I got to the hospital about two hours later, I would have died," he said
"My organs were shutting down. My liver, kidneys, everything.
"They were gonna have to put me on dialysis. They didn't think I was gonna make it. My bottom was gonna be death."
In his recovery, the rapper hasn't found it the easiest, and has relapsed on one occasion.
Elton John even became a mentor and would check in on him once or twice a week to ensure he was on the straight and narrow.
And now, Eminem at the point where he is 15 years sober - well done, Marshall.
Callum Jones