Following a routine cosmetic surgery procedure to correct her “puffy eyes” in the late ’80s, Jamie Lee Curtis became addicted to Vicodin, a powerful painkiller, and also began drinking. In a 2019 interview with Variety, she spoke candidly about her addiction and the difficult road to recovery. Curtis explained that she expertly played the role of doting mother and wife, as well as acclaimed Hollywood actor, while struggling behind the scenes. On the surface, Curtis said, she appeared to have it all. But addiction, which is classified as a disease by the American Medical Association, can affect anyone, regardless of how seemingly perfect one’s life may appear.
For a decade, she managed to keep her disease a secret, which is symptomatic of the widespread stigma surrounding addiction. When Curtis finally told her husband, Christopher Guest, he was loving and supportive. “The secret, the shameful secret, is the reason why it is such a pervasive illness in our industry. … It is the secret shame that keeps people locked up in their disease,” she told Variety.
Subsequently, she attended recovery meetings and got sober in 1999. Without seeking help, Curtis told AARP, she would be “dead for sure.” On “Today,” she emphasized the importance of opening up about her illness and breaking the associated taboo, declaring, “you’re only as sick as your secrets.” Speaking with Good Housekeeping, she said that recovering from addiction is the greatest achievement of her entire life, outshining all her acting accomplishments.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
