Russell Brand celebrates 20 years of sobriety and 'still finds life very, very difficult'

Virgin Radio

14 Dec 2022, 16:25

Russell Brand has thanked everyone for helping him through two decades of sobriety. The comedian told followers on Instagram how grateful he is to be clean, but still struggles with life and its pain.

The award-winning comedian, actor, author, public thought leader and activist for mental health and drug rehabilitation said: "Thank you to all the people who have helped me to remain clean - it is never done on your own.

"I'm 20 years clean and sober today. It's December the 13th. So, firstly I wanted to express my gratitude for all the people who have helped me to remain clean and sober.

"It's never done on your own and even though it's often seen and celebrated as a personal achievement - it is in essence, a community and spiritual achievement."

The star reflected: "What I have been taught and shown is that it is impossible for a person like me to not drink and use drugs, unless I have sufficient ongoing support from people that understand what it's like to feel that drugs or alcohol, or you know, certain behaviours, are necessary in order to feel okay.

"Because I still, every day at 20 years without crack and heroin, without alcohol, still feel strongly, a strong requirement - to seek approval or connection or validation or pleasure or distraction from the outside world.

"There is a way back to dignity, there is a way back to behaving responsibly and caringly - those things are all possible."

He added: "I don't live in the reckless, dangerous, selfish way that I used to live. The fact is that 20 years in, I still feel a lot of pain, I still find life very, very difficult, I find it difficult to confront the conditions of our world."

He urged people with similar issues that 'it is possible to change' and to work towards a better life.

Here he is talking to our Chris earlier in the year.