Reality TV
Matthew Perry on His Past Substance Abuse: “It Was so Public What Was Happening to Me”
Matthew Perry is getting candid about his struggles with substance abuse.
In a revealing new video created by The Hollywood Reporter on Matthew's work with LA's Phoenix House rehab center, the 46-year-old actor opened up about his past addictions to prescription drugs and alcohol.
"You can't have a drug problem for 30 years and then expect to have it be solved in 28 days," the former Friends star said at the start of the clip. "Getting sober is a really hard thing to do."
Matthew with his Friends costars in the late 1990s.
"I'm a pretty private person, but I was on a TV show that 30 million people were watching. So people knew. It was so public what was happening to me," he continued, referring to his weight noticeably fluctuating during several Friends seasons due to his substance abuse.
Earlier this year, Matthew — who previously checked into rehab in 1997 for a Vicodin addiction and 2001 for an addiction to prescription pills and alcohol — exclusively told Closer Weekly he is now sober and feeling more healthy than ever.
“I’m definitely feeling great,” he said, adding he's “on the other side” of his addictions and is now dedicated to helping other addicts seek treatment. “[Helping others is] the thing I like the most about me," Matthew added.
Watch Matthew discuss his work with Phoenix House in the video below.
