In a recent interview, Jamie Lee Curtis courageously shared her journey to sobriety. The 64-year-old actress discussed her past struggles with opioid addiction on Morning Joe, expressing gratitude for overcoming it 24 years ago.
During the conversation, Curtis revealed that her darkest moments went mostly unnoticed by others. She admitted, “My worst day was almost invisible to anyone else.”
Reflecting on her journey, she acknowledged her fortune in avoiding making regrettable decisions while under the influence. Curtis empathized with women in prison whose lives have been adversely affected by drugs and alcohol, emphasizing that their circumstances were often a result of addiction rather than inherent wrongdoing.
“I am incredibly lucky that that wasn’t my path,” she added.
Getting sober gave the Oscar-winning actress a clear mind and a whole new outlook. She openly admitted to being hooked on opiates and enjoying the “opiate buzz.” She also said, “If fentanyl was as easy to get on the streets back then as it is today, I might not be here.”
Her struggle with addiction continued until 1999. During that time, she lived a secret life of stealing and scheming without anyone knowing. But now, she sees her journey to sobriety as her biggest accomplishment, allowing her to live an “incredible life.”
Curtis explained that being sober is like having the “key to freedom.” It lets her be herself without trying to see someone else in the mirror.
She continued, “When I look in the mirror, I see myself. I accept myself, and I move on because you know what? The world is filled with things we need to do. I’m breaking the cycle that has essentially destroyed the lives of generations in my family.”
Curtis experienced the heartbreaking loss of her brother Nicholas, who passed away from a heroin overdose at the age of 21. Her father, the actor Tony Curtis, also grappled with alcohol and drug issues.
“Getting sober remains my single greatest accomplishment,” she confessed. “It’s bigger than my husband, bigger than both of my children, and bigger than any work, success, failure—anything.”
We’re cheering you on, Jamie Lee!