Following the release of her new album, Traumazine, Megan Thee Stallion announced her new mental health website, Bad B*****s Have Bad Days Too. The title, attention-grabbing in its own right, comes from the chorus of “Anxiety,” a catchy tune about the frustration of living with mental illness.

In an interview with Apple Music, the artist spoke about how writing this album was the first time she allowed herself to be vulnerable during the creation process. “Usually when I write songs, like, I could be sad and I’ll write a song like ‘Body.’” Chuckling, Stallion continued, “I don’t write songs about how I feel, I write songs about how I wanna feel.” She explains that writing the songs on Traumazine was the first time she figured out how to actually say what she wanted to; she found space to let her guard down and express authenticity, “I wanted to take control of my narrative, take control of my own story, tell it my own way…tell it from me.”

Celebrities Speak Out About Mental Health

Megan Thee Stallion is hardly the first celebrity to speak openly about her experiences with mental health; roughly a month ago Jonah Hill stated that he will no longer be participating in any media events to preserve his mental wellbeing. From actors to athletes, more and more stars are advocating for mental wellness and general destigmatization. Some, like Stallion, are taking matters into their own hands and creating websites, apps, or general forums where people can both gather in community as well obtain helpful information on how to maintain a healthy mind.

Bad B*****s Have Bad Days Too compiles various mental health resources, many that address the particularly unique struggles of specific groups like the LGBTQ community or Black women. On average, people of color are 28% to 60% less likely to receive treatment than their White counterparts. Featuring organizations like Therapy for Black Girls, Black Emotional & Mental Health Collective, Stronghearts Native Helpline and many more, Stallion’s website is notably beneficial in providing information to fans and listeners of all backgrounds, but particularly those historically under-serviced.

Stars With Mental Health Platforms

Selena Gomez, Mandy Teefy, And Daniella Pierson’s Wondermind

First announced in late 2021, Wondermind is a startup company founded by mother-daughter duo Selena Gomez and Mandy Teefy and entrepreneur Daniella Pierson. The basic idea of the project is to help people practice mental fitness, emphasizing that just like every other muscle in the human body, one must dedicate time to strengthen the mind. With an aim to appeal to “everyone with feelings,” (as opposed to solely those who experience mental illness) Pierson told Forbes in an email that their goal in Wondermind’s design was to create “a sexier, more entertaining competitor to Psychology Today, WebMD, etc. for the millions of people searching about mental health daily.” Wondermind provides resources like journal prompts, real stories, articles on everything from ‘reasons to try therapy’ to various life hacks for different conditions, as well as an option to sign up for their newsletter.

Taraji P. Henson’s Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation

Created in memory of and named after her father, Taraji P. Henson’s Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF) aims to “[eradicate] the stigma around mental health issues in the African-American community.” During the spring of last year, BLHF launched an awareness campaign called The Unspoken Curriculum which intended to highlight the ways in which Black students experience mental health issues in schools. Henson also co-hosts a Facebook Watch Original show with best friend, Tracie Jade, that explores Black experiences with mental health. Through personal stories, Peace of Mind aims to “bring mental health out of the shadows” and make transparent the disparity in overall mental wellness experienced in the Black community.

J Balvin’s App, OYE

Around the same time Megan Thee Stallion announced her new website, Colombian reggaeton artist J Balvin launched OYE, a bilingual app intended to provide a space for people to channel their mental struggles into creativity. Translating to “listen,” OYE can easily be switched between Spanish and English and features tools like emotional check-ins, creative wellness videos and exercises, a personal goal setting tool, and more. In a statement shared with TODAY, Balvin says he created OYE “to bring a deeper understanding of the healing powers of these creative wellness practices to the global community—for both Spanish and English speaking audiences worldwide.”

Does Celebrities’ Openness About Mental Health Actually Help Their Fans?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), roughly 1 billion people around the world live with a mental health disorder. In the United States alone, the numbers show 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness. Thanks to social media and the widespread accessibility of the internet, it’s feasible to wonder if/how celebrities’ involvement could change things for their followers. Clinical assistant professor of clinical psychology at the University of Denver, Dr. Breigh Jones-Coplin told CNN of celebrities:

They have a reach that obviously a lot of the mental health professionals in the field don’t have. Of course, that comes with a lot of pros and cons. Having the influence is one (pro), but also making sure you use that power for good to get across accurate and helpful information. People just don’t know where to start…which is what makes these platforms really useful.

For many people, it can feel invasive or uncomfortable to talk about their feelings, especially considering various cultures and often the lack of acceptance or understanding of the validity of mental wellness. Dr. Amanda J. Calhoun, Yale University psychiatry resident said, “As a Black woman, I represent less than 2% of psychiatrists (in the US). There is a lot of power in having a mental health professional who looks like you. [A]s a Black women and as a psychiatrist, I also spend a lot of time educating myself on things that are not taught in my standard psychiatric education.”

Overall, the general consensus is positive; stars who use their voice and platform to extend awareness and resources show their fans that mental wellness is just as important as physical health. However, just like any other information that is widely accessible, these websites and platforms are not meant to serve as a sole means to achieve mental soundness.

If You Are Struggling With Your Mental Health, Get Professional Help

As mental health slowly becomes less stigmatized and people—stars and laypeople alike—continue to share their experiences, it is important to remember to not self-diagnose or seek treatment/medication without the help of a professional. Resources like Bad B*****s Have Bad Days Too, Wondermind, OYE, and BLFH help us feel more connected and less alone, but should not be used to determine the state of your mental health. If you or someone you love is struggling with mental illness, help is available. Contact a therapist and get started on your wellness journey, today.

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In the last few years, a growing number of celebrities have taken themselves out of the spotlight citing their mental health as their primary reason. Along with other notable stars including Tom Holland, Florence Pugh, and Shawn Mendes, actor Jonah Hill is the latest to join this growing list.

The 38-year-old 21 Jump Streep actor has stated that he will no longer be doing any public-facing events or media appearances to protect his mental health. In the same open letter, published by Deadline, Hill stated that he spent “nearly 20 years experiencing anxiety attacks,” which he said were often exacerbated by the media. Hill’s decision to take a step back from the public eye came ahead of the announcement of his new documentary, “Stutz,” which follows the actor and his therapist through candid discussions about his mental health and anxiety attacks.

“You won’t see me out there promoting this film, or any of my upcoming films,” Hill said. “If I made myself sicker by going out there and promoting it, I wouldn’t be acting true to myself or to the film.”

Jonah Hill isn’t alone in his decision to step back from the spotlight. In recent years there have been dozens of celebrities who have cited mental health concerns as their reason for turning away from the public eye.

Other Celebrities Citing Mental Health Concerns

Celebrities are often set apart from the rest of society and as a result, are often not associated with things like mental illness. However, as evidenced by Jonah Hill’s recent announcement to recede from the public eye, it’s clear that this notion is simply not true.

Living life in the constant presence of the media, paparazzi, and fans can all take a major toll on a person’s mental health. Even still, it can be hard for some celebrities to feel comfortable announcing that they are struggling with mental health. The stigma surrounding mental health is not lost on celebrities. In fact, in some instances it can be more difficult for someone with a major platform, like  Jonah Hill, to admit they are struggling, as people often see celebrities as “immune” to mental illness.

With his recent announcement to stop promoting his documentary and future films, Hill joins a fast-growing list of stars who have cited mental health as their reason for taking a step back from the spotlight.

Simone Biles

Perhaps one of the greatest Olympic gymnasts of all time, Simone Biles made headlines around the world when she announced she would be withdrawing from the 2021 Tokyo Summer Games due to mental health issues. The 24 year old, who has won seven Olympic medals, including four gold, stated she was battling the “twisties,” a mental block where competitors lose track of where they are while in midair, along with the unexpected loss of a family member during the Summer Games.

Naomi Osaka

Since her debut as a professional tennis player at just 15 years old, tennis star Naomi Osaka has won four Grand Slam titles and been ranked by the Women’s Tennis Association as the top player in the world. However, the 24-year-old has stated that she has long grappled with anxiety and depression, which have both affected her ability to carry out work obligations like participating in press conferences with the media. In 2021, Osaka withdrew from the French Open to prioritize her mental health and drew widespread backlash from the media.

“There can be moments for any of us where we are dealing with issues behind the scenes,” Osaka wrote in an article for Time Magazine. “Each of us as humans is going through something on some level.”

Chloe Kim

Soon after repeating gold in the halfpipe competition at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, snowboarder Chloe Kim announced that she would be “taking a break” from competing to focus on her mental health. The six-time X Games gold medalist said that her decision to take a step back wasn’t easy, but said it was imperative to ensure that come the 2026 games, the sight of snow “doesn’t make [me] scream.”

“It’s just knowing that it could get overwhelming if I just went right back into it into another season,” Kim explained. “I’m just basically being a little cautious. I’m just putting myself first and just knowing that I can’t handle it right now. I’m taking some time off. I’m going on vacation. It will be good.”

Tom Holland

Actor Tom Holland recently shared a video on his Instagram profile announcing he would be “taking a break” from social media” to safeguard his mental health. The 26-year-old actor, best known for his role as Marvel’s Spider-Man, said that social media had caused his mental health to severely decline.

“I find Instagram and Twitter to be overstimulating, to be overwhelming,” said Holland. “I get caught up and I spiral when I read things about me online and ultimately, it’s very detrimental to my mental state. So, I decided to take a step back and delete the app.”

Serena Williams

Another of tennis’ greatest players, Serena Williams, recently announced in August that she would be putting down her racket and focusing on “other priorities,” saying that the key to maintaining her mental health was to set boundaries and take time for herself.

“Mental fitness for me is just really learning to shut down,” Williams said in a recent interview. “Subconsciously, it was something I’ve always done. And so now that I know that it’s so important to just put yourself first, especially mentally, I always have shut-down moments. I have serious boundaries and I don’t let anyone cross those boundaries.”

The Importance Of Speaking Out About Mental Health

While it can often be easy to look at celebrities as being “better than” or “above” mental illness, it’s important to note that they are just as susceptible as anyone. Furthermore, the stigma that surrounds mental illness is not lost on celebrities and can present the same barriers for them to come forward as for anyone else.

The platforms that Jonah Hill and others have can be useful tools to help shed light on mental illness and can help destigmatize conditions like depression and anxiety. At the end of the day, when celebrities speak out, people listen. The more mental illness and the importance of mental health are in the media, the more the stigma surrounding them can be addressed.

“I usually cringe at letters or statements like this,” Hill confessed in a recent interview with The Guardian. “But I understand that I am of the privileged few who can afford to take time off.”

He continued: “I won’t lose my job while working on my anxiety. With this letter and with “Stutz,” I’m hoping to make it more normal for people to talk and act on this stuff, so they can take steps towards feeling better and so that the people in their lives might understand their issues more clearly.”

Finding Treatment For Mental Illness

Mental illness can be debilitating, and for many can be so burdensome that it makes everyday life feel impossible. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available to help those struggling with their mental health. If you or someone you know is looking for help with mental illness, it’s important to get help as soon as possible. Get in touch with a therapist today.

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Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has entered rehab after a relapse on pain medication following foot surgery. The 74-year-old singer underwent surgery to “prepare for the stage” as the band prepared to start their Deuces Are Wild shows in a forthcoming Las Vegas residency in June. A spokesperson for Tyler issued a statement that said the “necessity of pain management during the process” had led him to relapse, but Tyler has since voluntarily entered a treatment program to “concentrate on his health and recovery.” The remaining tour dates for June and July have been canceled, but the band expects to resume their residency in September.  

Tyler previously discussed his struggles with addiction with GQ magazine stating that drugs were “more or less the thing to do” as a rock star in the 70s. Heavy drug and alcohol use was prevalent amongst many bands during this time, with Tyler stating that hardly any bands even knew what being sober meant. Tyler started using drugs in the 1960s as a teenager, but the rockstar lifestyle caught up with the singer during his early years with Aerosmith.

In 1988, Tyler’s bandmates and management staged an intervention that led him to a period of abstinence. The singer stated that it took many years to get over the anger of being sent to rehab, but his anger has now turned to appreciation, and he owes a “thanks to them” for his sobriety. Following a relapse in 2009, he entered the Betty Ford facility for prescription drug abuse treatment and was believed to have remained sober afterward. 

The Risk Of Prescription Pain Medication

Tyler’s history with prescription pain medication abuse is unfortunately not an uncommon occurrence in America. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over 2 million people in the US had a prescription Opioid use disorder, and over 16 million people reported misusing any prescription psychotherapeutic drug in 2020. The rate of addiction to prescription pain medication is so high due to several factors, including high accessibility, a history of over-prescription, and the fact that the body can develop a tolerance quickly to it. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the risk of developing an Opioid dependency significantly increases after 5 days of regular use.

Successful treatment of prescription drug abuse may need to incorporate several components, including detoxification, counseling, and medications. Multiple courses of treatment may be necessary for an individual to make a full recovery, but recovery is possible for everyone. 

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How Steven Tyler Made The Best Of His Situation

Tyler opened Janie’s House in 2017, a home for residential treatment programs for abused and neglected girls just outside Atlanta, after meeting women during his previous time in rehab who were also seeking treatment. Many of the women, Tyler told CNN, were seeking treatment, in part, due to the ramifications of the abuse they had endured during their lives. “While I was in [rehab], I found out most of women in there were battered and beaten and abused verbally and sexually in huge numbers,” Tyler said. “It was like 7 out of 10, 8 out of 10.”

The organization’s namesake comes from Aerosmith’s 1989 hit song “Janie’s Got A Gun,” which details a young girl abused by her father. Preceding Janie’s House, Tyler created Janie’s Fund to bring awareness to the neglect and abuse children face, and to provide financial support to ensure that girls receive the most effective services available to help them overcome the trauma and pain of abuse. 

It is not yet known how long Tyler will remain in treatment, but a representative of the singer apologized to those affected by the show cancellations, “especially our most loyal fans who often travel great distances to experience our shows,” and thanked everyone for their support and understanding during this time. 

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Country star—and one half of the duo, The Judds—Naomi Judd, has been public and honest about her struggle with severe depression for years. On April 30 of this year, the battle ended as the music star died by suicide at age 76; she is survived by her husband of 32 years, Larry Strickland and her two daughters, actress/activist, Ashley Judd and duo partner/country singer, Wynonna Judd.

If you or someone you love is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255 for 24/7 assistance.

Naomi Judd: An Outspoken Mental Health Advocate

According to one article written for People, Judd first began to struggle with crippling mental illness in 2012, following the wrap up of The Judd’s Last Encore tour. She had faced an empty void where long-suppressed memories of sexual abuse and other childhood traumas began to surface, causing a downward spiral into a state of depression. In an interview with Robin Roberts for Good Morning America back in 2016, with medication-induced trembling in her hands, she revealed a diagnosis that emphasized the intensity of her condition when she spoke of the vast disconnect between her public perception and her reality behind closed doors:

They see me in rhinestones, with glitter in my hair, that really is who I am. But then I would come home and not leave the house for 3 weeks, and not get out of my pajamas, and not practice normal hygiene; it was really bad…What I’ve been through is extreme; my final diagnosis was ‘severe depression: treatment resistant’ ‘cause they tried me on every single thing they had in their arsenal and I really felt like if I lived through this, I want someone to be able to see that they can survive ‘cause there’s 40 million of us out there.

Judd’s Heartfelt Thoughts In Letter Written For Mental Health Awareness Week

As if the situation was not devastating enough in light of the recent tragedy, a letter the singer wrote in 2018 during Mental Health Awareness Week has been re-shared. In this letter, she vocalizes the importance of de-stigmatizing mental illness so as to better understand suicide and the circumstances surrounding an act that for a vast majority of the population, seems unthinkable. Toward the top she writes, “As a singer who chronicled a lifetime battle with mental illness…and the recent deaths of chef Anthony Bourdain and designer Kate Spade, [it is] clear that no amount of fame or fortune can protect people from the despair that can lead some of us to take our own lives.”

Her death was publicized just 24 hours before she and daughter/duo partner Wynonna Judd were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

A Note On Mental Health And Wellness

The news of Naomi Judd’s death comes just before the month of May, Mental Health Awareness Month for nearly 70 years. To raise consciousness and share the importance of overall mental and emotional wellbeing, the nonprofit organization, Mental Health America, decides on a general theme for the month every year. This year’s theme is “Mental Health Month—Life With a Mental Illness,” encouraging those who live with varying degrees of mental illness to share what it’s really like to experience the world as they do. Professionals believe that much of the stigma surrounding mental health and the subsequent care it deserves and requires could be eradicated if more people not only had a deeper overall understanding, but also a vocabulary of language to use. Like any other illness, particularly that which is more easily seen or understood, mental conditions come with their own host of challenges, shortcomings, and general experiences. It has been proven time and time again through heartache and devastation that sometimes, often, even, our minds are our own worst enemy; that just because symptoms are not external or otherwise visible, does not mean that they are any less real, any less detrimental to the person struggling.

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Like so many others, Judd’s heartbreaking story proves the depth and despair of mental illness. In a culture that praises health and wellness, we are reminded constantly of the discrepancy between physical wellbeing and that of the mind: it is often easier to overlook those who only suffer inside themselves than it is to insist on widespread mental health support. This Mental Health Awareness Month, share personal stories and experiences, live openly and honestly, and reach out to those who are struggling under the weight of an invisible force.

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Macklemore, whose birth name is Ben Haggerty, has recently been candid about his struggles with substance use and relapse. The rapper has partnered with CLEAN Cause, a sparkling beverage company, in the hopes that being truthful about sobriety can help others who are struggling with a substance use disorder (SUD). 

Macklemore’s Early Drug And Alcohol Use

Last week, 38-year-old Macklemore shared his experience with addiction in an essay for TODAY. In his own words, he details his first time consuming alcohol. At age 14, Macklemore snuck alcohol from his parent’s liquor cabinet which was located above his refrigerator. After having 1 shot of vodka, he began to wonder what it would feel like to take 2 shots. This curiosity led the then 130-lb Macklemore to continue drinking 12 shots in one sitting. After this binge, he took a bus downtown, threw up in a trashcan, and ran from the cops. 

Macklemore recalls that he began rapping around the same age that his drug and alcohol use began. Despite many artists relating substance use to increased creativity, the rapper does not agree. In his essay, Macklemore said, “When I use drugs and alcohol, I shut off. I have a veil over my eyes. I can’t see the truth anymore. I sit on the couch and play PlayStation with my friends. Maybe I’ll go freestyling in a park, but in terms of making albums, it’s going to be impossible. When I’m sober, I’m prolific and productive.” 

After his first experience with alcohol, Macklemore continued down the path of addiction which caused his life to fall apart. At age 25, he started to find small, local success as a rapper; enough to pay his bills. When the momentum of this success came to a halt, Macklemore turned to drugs and alcohol to cope. He began recreationally using OxyContin, drinking excessively, and smoking Marijuana. These unhealthy habits caused him to feel as if he had lost the will to live. 

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Getting Treatment And Growing As An Artist

During this time, Macklemore’s father asked him if he was happy. When his honest answer was “no”, his father offered to help by paying for treatment. Macklemore agreed and entered a facility in 2008. The rapper claims that surrendering and admitting that he needed help was the most powerful thing he has ever done. 

Once out of treatment, Macklemore moved back in with his parents and began to contemplate if he could be a rapper while championing for sobriety. He remembers realizing that no one in hip hop had been openly sober before. Despite instinctually thinking he should hide this side of his life, he decided he wanted to be transparent and honest. 

It was around this time that Macklemore formed a creative partnership with producer and songwriter Ryan Lewis. Together, the duo released an EP called VS. Redux in 2010. Macklemore says this EP, which focused on his struggles with drug and alcohol use, was the first time his music really connected with listeners. He noted that fans would specifically thank him for the song “Otherside.” 

Despite Macklemore’s doubts that sobriety could be marketable in the rap genre, he found there was power in sharing his story. He believes that being open and honest about your experience allows others to feel safe to share theirs. 

Macklemore’s Relapse And Views On Sobriety

In 2021, Macklemore did an interview on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast. During this conversation, the artist confessed that he had experienced a relapse in the year prior. Macklemore has shared that the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to his relapse. He found that he was losing focus as his 12-step meeting became Zoom meetings. This caused him to become out of touch with his recovery community which he says is a big factor to staying sober. 

“Sobriety is not a daily struggle, but it’s a daily effort. I have to be proactive about my recovery. When I talk about it, I get a spiritual reprieve. If I’m not reaching out to others, being of service, going to meetings, working the steps, I will eventually forget how bad it gets. I will end up thinking that the drug is the best solution to take me out of whatever momentary pain I’m in,” Macklemore wrote in his TODAY essay. 

CLEAN Cause’s New Creative Director

Macklemore has recently teamed with CLEAN Cause, a beverage company with a mission. Founder Wes Hurt noticed that the sober living experience was crucial to the recovery process, especially when it comes to forming routines, finding employment, and preparing to re-enter the world. For this reason, CLEAN Cause donates 50% of their net profits, or 5% of net revenues, whichever is greater, to help fund sober living scholarships. Almost 3,000 scholarships, around $1.5 million, have been backed through CLEAN Cause. 

In this partnership, Macklemore has been named CLEAN Cause’s new Creative Director. Through his artistic vision and own personal experience, he hopes to raise awareness about addiction. Macklemore’s first project with CLEAN Cause will be a video series titled “Drink to This.” While the series is yet to be released, a short trailer can be found on YouTube. Individuals in the series are shown sharing their unique, yet universal stories about the benefits of sobriety. 

“To anyone in recovery… to anyone who loves someone in recovery… to anyone who needs recovery… to anyone, anywhere, on the road to recovery… to anyone who wants to help those in recovery… drink to this,” Macklemore can be heard saying while he plays the piano in the series’ trailer. 

The Importance Of CLEAN Cause’s Mission

It has been reported that 1 in 7 people in the US will develop a substance use disorder in their lifetime. Of these individuals, only 1 in 10 will receive the treatment they need. Additionally, the US saw the highest number of recorded overdose deaths, over 100,000, for any 12-month period last year. Macklemore hopes that being honest about his own story can help others to get the treatment they need. 

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Avicii, born Tim Bergling, was a popular DJ, songwriter, and producer from Sweden. With chart topping songs like “Levels” and “Wake Me Up”, Avicii’s music was genre re-defining. Despite the quick success Avicii experienced, the artist’s lifelong struggles with anxiety and addiction led to his death by suicide in 2018.

A recently released biography, written by Mans Mosesson, details how mental health concerns and addiction were present in the life of the Grammy nominated musician. For Moseeson’s Tim – The Official Biography Of Avicii, the author was granted access to Avicii’s personal journals. These journal entries reveal the extent at which the DJ was struggling during the years leading up to his death. 

Avicii’s Early Substance Use And Dissociation

Avicii was in high school when he smoked Marijuana for the first time. This experience caused an episode of paranoia for Bergling which resulted in feelings of derealization. He began to no longer feel connected to the world around him. In this state, Avicii confessed his substance use to his parents and expressed concern that the Marijuana had triggered a psychosis. They took him to a child psychologist who eased their worries. 

What Avicii was likely experiencing after first using Marijuana was a period of dissociation. This can be defined as a disconnect between a person’s memories, feelings, behaviors, perceptions, or sense of self. While dissociation is often mild, it can also become a disorder which can interfere with an individual’s daily life. Studies have shown that derealization can occur after an individual has used Marijuana, not as a cause of use but rather can be triggered by the substance. These feelings can present themselves after using for the first time or after extended, repeated use. 

Lifelong Struggles With Anxiety

Disassociation can also accompany the majority of psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety and depression. Avicii, who has often been described as a shy person, struggled with both of these conditions throughout his life. As a teen, he was self-conscious of his appearance, specifically his nose and acne. 

Fame, success, and the DJ lifestyle only heightened Avicii’s anxiety and substance use. Being recognized by fans in public, performance nerves, and a grueling tour schedule caused him to turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism. 

“It feels like I’m going to faint every single day now. And not just today and this tour but from about the first time I mentioned that I felt worn-out. Pretty regularly but I push it back down and choose not to bring it up because there’s nothing I can do about it,” he told his manager in 2011.  

Health Issues Caused By Avicii’s Substance Use

In 2012, at age 22, Avicii was admitted to the hospital with extreme stomach pains. It was determined that he was experiencing acute pancreatitis due to excessive alcohol use. Doctors instructed him to heal his stomach’s inflammation by avoiding junk food and staying sober for at least 6 months. During his hospital stay, he was also prescribed Oxycodone, an Opioid, to deal with the pain.   

Once back on tour, Avicii added pill popping to his old habits of poor eating, drinking, and not sleeping. In the journal entries featured in Mosesson’s book, he wrote, “Of course, I didn’t listen to the majority of doctors. I listened to the couple who said it would be okay if I was careful. I was ignorant and naive and touring the world, still on the never-ending tour because once you’ve circled it once, guess what? You start right back over again.” 

When stomach pains returned in 2013, doctors recommended that Avicii have his gallbladder removed. He opted to not have the procedure done until he had more free time in his schedule. The following year, his appendix ruptured and his gallbladder was removed. Both hospital stays resulted in more painkillers being prescribed. 

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An Intervention In Ibiza

Following his cycle of hospital visits, those closest to Avicii began to notice his behavior changing. He was often irritable and acted erratically. In 2014, his parents tried to help him with his Opioid addiction. He resisted their help and flew to Los Angeles where a personal doctor would write him prescriptions whenever he wanted. 

After two incidences of needing his stomach pumped from a mix of pills and alcohol, his friends and family staged an intervention. This intervention took place in Ibiza where Avicii was performing a few shows. He agreed to enter a tranquil and pricey treatment program on the Spanish island. It was during this 1 month of intensive, inpatient rehab, that Avicii came to understand that his addiction was a coping mechanism for his mental health struggles. 

“It needed to be explained to me very logically and caveman-esque for me to truly understand its nature and how it was harming me. Ouch, pain. Why me pain now? Uncomfortable feeling. Future Time deal with pain. Future deal with pain better than present Tim because already there’s too many present pains more urgent to deal with,” he wrote in his journals during the Ibiza treatment program. 

Avicii’s Life After Rehab

Once he completed his month in rehab, Avicii seemed to have a new outlook on life. He was meditating regularly, reading about the collective unconscious, and got a puppy. After not performing for a long period of time, he returned to the stage in 2016 at Miami’s Ultra Music Festival. It was announced a few days after this gig that he would not be performing live anymore. Avicii chose to not perform so that he could focus on bettering his mental health. 

Despite appearing to have new-found stability, Avicii still struggled to deal with his mental health issues. While continuing to suppress the anxiety and depression that he frequently felt, Avicii also started to become disinterested in his music career. During this time, he was smoking and drinking on occasion which may have resulted in a resurgence of his disassociation feelings. 

He told Tereza Kacerova, his girlfriend at the time, “What if everyone around me is just a projection in my mind? Sometimes I just think these things. About how nothing really matters.” 

Avicii started to focus heavily on meditation which he found to be helpful in clearing the “nonsense” from his mind. He believed that a deep form of meditation taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was a way to exercise his brain which he had decided would lead to his happiness. Despite this form of meditation typically being done in 20 minute increments, Avicii would sometimes spend full days meditating in an attempt to reach enlightenment faster. 

While on a trip to Muscat, Oman, one of Avicii’s friends called his father to express concerns for the DJ’s well-being. The friend described Avicii’s intense meditation and shared that he was refusing to eat, speak, or take shade from the sun. Just one day later, on April 20th, 2018, Avicii took his own life. Avicii was 28 years old. 

Addiction And Suicide

For Americans at all ages, suicide is among one of the leading causes of death. Those, like Avicii, who struggle with a substance use disorder (SUD), are at a higher risk for death by suicide. In fact, those who drink heavily are 5 times more likely to die by suicide than those who drink socially. Over the past few years, suicides related to Opioid addiction have nearly doubled. 

It is common for those at risk for suicide to struggle with addiction and other mental health risk factors like depression, anxiety, chronic illness, and a history of abuse. With drugs and alcohol being able to worsen these conditions while increasing aggressive behavior and lowering inhibitions, suicidal thoughts can occur. 

It is important to be able to recognize behavioral changes that might indicate a loved one may be suicidal. Behavioral signs include: 

• Admitting to feeling trapped, hopeless, or having no purpose in life 
• Isolating oneself 
• Oversleeping or trouble sleeping 
• Struggling to control anger 
• Physically harming oneself 

Relapsing can also be an indicator that an individual is having suicidal thoughts.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available to you for free, all hours of the day and night, at 1-800-273-8255.

The post What Avicii’s Journals From Rehab Reveal About His Mental Health appeared first on Addiction Center.

Last Friday, Grammy nominated rapper, Fetty Wap, pled not guilty to federal drug charges based on his alleged involvement with a bicoastal drug ring. Fetty Wap, whose legal name is Willie Jr. Maxwell II, was arrested 1 day prior at Citi Field where he was set to perform at the Rolling Loud music festival.

The 30-year-old “Trap Queen” singer, who is originally from Patterson, New Jersey, has been charged with 1 count of conspiring to distribute and possess controlled substances. Officials have said that Fetty Wap, and 5 others who have been linked to this case, were running a multi-million dollar drug organization.

US Attorney Breon Peace told CNN that the group was distributing more than 100 kilograms, or 220 pounds, of Cocaine, Heroin, Fentanyl, and Crack throughout Long Island, New York and parts of New Jersey. Peace also added that the selling of these highly addictive substances was deliberately contributing to the Opioid crisis that is affecting communities in NY, NJ, and the country as a whole. It is believed that this distribution occurred over a 1 year period beginning in June of 2019.

Fetty Wap’s C0-Defendants

Five other individuals involved in this drug organization were also listed on the same indictment. Over the past month, Fetty Wap’s co-defendants have been arrested and arraigned on separate days. Those charged with the indictment that was unsealed last week include: Anthony Leonard (47), Robert Leonardi (26), Brian Sullivan (26), Kavaughn Wiggins (26), and Anthony Cyntje (23). Cyntje is a former New Jersey corrections officer. Sullivan, Anthony Leonardi, and Cyntje also faced drug trafficking charges when local authorities in Suffolk County seized 17 kilograms of Cocaine, 2 kilograms of Heroin, and $1.5 million in cash.

Suffolk County district attorney, Timothy D. Sini, said in a statement, “They were wholesale drug dealers who pumped massive quantities of narcotics into our communities. The magnitude of this operation was enormous.”

Prosecutors have said that the Leonardi brothers, Sullivan, and Wiggins were tasked with purchasing illicit substances on the West Coast and then transporting them back to the East. They believe Cyntje transported Cocaine from Long Island into New Jersey while Fetty Wap was a “Kilogram level redistributor.” To get the substances into the area, the group was allegedly mailing through the United States Postal Service and hiring drivers with hidden compartments for storing drugs. Five of the 6 defendants in this indictment were charged with using firearms in relation to their drug trafficking activity.

Authorities revealed that during their yearlong investigation, $1.5 million in cash, numerous Fentanyl pills, 10 kilograms of Cocaine, 2 kilograms of Heroin, 2 9-millimeter handguns, 2 pistols, a rifle and ammunition have been recovered. They also believe that the group was using Long Island as their base of operations.

The Overdose Epidemic

Some of the substances distributed by Fetty Wap and his co-defendants are often linked to overdose deaths in the US. Opioids, like Heroin, were the leading cause of overdose deaths last year. Fentanyl, a synthetic Opioid that can be 80 to 100 times stronger than Morphine, was second to Opioids when it came to being linked to overdose deaths in 2020. Additionally, the US saw its highest recorded number of overdose deaths in a 12 month period last year with over 96,000 casualties. This was a 29.6% increase from the previous year.

“The pipeline of drugs in this investigation ran thousands of miles from the West Coast to the communities here in our area, contributing to the addiction and overdose epidemic we have seen time and time again tear people’s lives apart,” said FBI assistant director-in-charge, Michael J. Driscoll.

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Fetty Wap’s Involvement And Arraignment

Fetty Wap, who gained fame in 2015, has not been prominent in pop culture for a few years. CBS New York reported that a source said the rapper turned to drug dealing due to lack of money and prestige. In the past year, Fetty Wap has experienced great tragedy with the loss of his 4 year-old daughter, who had an heart ailment, and the death of his brother, who was shot in Paterson, NJ. Both have been said to have affected Fetty Wap deeply.

The day after he was arrested shortly before his 4:45 pm scheduled performance, Fetty Wap had a video conference with federal court in Central Islip, NY. During his arraignment, Fetty Wap pled not guilty to these charges. He did not seek bail and was held in detention following the hearing. Fetty Wap’s charges carry a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. It has been reported that Fetty Wap has been in negotiations with his lawyer over the past few days. This may indicate that a plea bargain is being discussed.

Driscoll also said in his recent statement, “The fact that we arrested a chart-topping rap artist and a corrections officer as part of the conspiracy illustrates just how vile the drug trade industry has become.”

The post Fetty Wap Faces Charges For Multi-Million Dollar Drug Ring appeared first on Addiction Center.

During a lawsuit over former Zappos CEO’s estate, Tony Hsieh’s family recounted the entrepreneur’s history with drug use. The family of Hsieh claims that his former assistant, along with other people in his inner circle, took advantage of his deteriorated mental state as a result of substance misuse. Hsieh, 46, passed away in a house fire last November. 

The Lawsuit

Jennifer “Mimi” Pham, longtime friend and the ex-assistant of Hsieh, is claiming she is entitled to more than $9 million of Hsieh’s estate for work she did on his behalf. Claims during the current lawsuit detail that Pham’s company, Rove & Whim, was in contract with Hsieh to provide project related and personal assistance services. This included a $30,000 per day fee for these services. Pham’s boyfriend, Roberto Grande, and friend, Tony Lee, are also being accused of benefiting from Hsieh’s decline. Lee is currently requesting $7 million of Hsieh’s estate for providing “assistance” at times during their almost 17 year long friendship. 

Because Hsieh had no will in place when his life ended in 2020, the judge named his father, Richard Hsieh, and brother, Andrew Hsieh, special administrators of his estate. In this past week, the Heish family and their lawyers detailed how substance abuse allowed Pham, Lee, and Grande to exploit Heish’s mental state. 

Hsieh’s Ketamine Use

Hsieh’s family stated that in an effort to ease his social anxiety, Hsieh would often drink alcohol or use substances such as Adderall, Xanax, and Ambien. In November, 2019, Hsieh began experimenting with Ketamine, a substance that has become increasingly popular among teens and young adults at parties, dance clubs, and raves. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that can be injected, snorted, or smoked. Those who use Ketamine report feeling disconnected, not in control, and detached from pain and their environment. This substance is known to cause hallucinations.

As Hsieh continued to misuse Ketamine, his hallucinations became more frequent and elaborate. His family described Hsieh as having “disorganized delusions of grandeur.” They provided an example of these hallucinations through Hsieh’s belief in the “simulation hypothesis” which was the idea that all humans are living in a simulation. Court documents stated that Hsieh felt that Ketamine allowed him to learn the skills needed to defeat the simulation and save humanity. 

The family believes Hsieh was incapable of recognizing how Ketamine was negatively affecting him because he had formed an addiction. This inability to sober up and a continuous lack of sleep were cited as to why he was unable to perform the basic tasks of his role as the CEO of Zappos. 

Hsieh was admitted to a rehab facility in February of 2020 after an intervention was performed by his friends. During treatment, a close friend made a list of behaviors exhibited by Hsieh that led to his intervention. This list included several things that Hsieh believed he could do such as manifest water, transform into animals or objects, and download “talents” to his brain with minimal study. Despite this attempt at treatment and concern from friends, Hsieh continued to use Ketamine and other substances. 

On the way to Montana with friends in June 2020, Hsieh asked his friends to make a suicide pact and exhibited other abnormal behaviors like only packing a box of crayons for the trip. Upon returning home, he was taken to the hospital as he was showing signs of psychosis. After this incident, Hsieh started misusing Nitrous Oxide as a replacement to Ketamine. 

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What Is Nitrous Oxide?

Nitrous Oxide, also known as “laughing gas,” is often used for sedation during medical or dental procedures. This colorless, non-flammable gas causes feelings of light-headedness, relaxation, and hallucinations. Similar to Ketamine, Nitrous Oxide is used recreationally at raves and music festivals. This substance is not often linked to overdose deaths therefore many underestimate the risk of misusing Nitrous Oxide. Despite this, there are negative effects such as lowered blood pressure, heart attack, nerve damage, memory loss, depression, and decreased coordination. 

Because Nitrous Oxide provides a quick high when inhaled, the term “whippets” is often used when talking about recreational use. Those who use Nitrous Oxide recreationally may purchase the substance in “whipped cream charger” canisters or medical gas tanks. The gas is typically transferred to a balloon or plastic bag to be inhaled from. 

Hsieh Begins Using Nitrous Oxide

Friends of Hsieh claim that he was using up to 50 cartridges of Nitrous Oxide each day and often in public or during meetings. Witnesses described his home and bedroom being littered with hundreds of used cartridges amongst other alarming sights such as broken glass, dog feces, and rotten food. He was also attempting to make his home one with nature by redirecting a stream closer to his patio to be used for dishwashing. He also had decided to replace all electricity with candles and tiki torches which led to his fire alarms going off frequently at all hours of the night. 

When a friend contacted the Hsieh family with concerns of his drug use and dramatic weight loss, they attempted to step in to help. His brother attempted to have vitamins and protein supplements be discreetly added to his diet. Richard, his father, sent an addiction specialist to his home but he was denied access. It was around this time that Hsieh stepped down as CEO of Zappos. 

In November 2020, Hsieh fell asleep in a shed of a Connecticut home after a fight with his girlfriend. The shed, filled with candles, a propane heater, and a 20 lb propane tank, caught fire. It is believed that the fire was caused by one of the candles torching the blanket and a nearby plastic bag. It has been speculated that Hsieh had been using Nitrous Oxide prior to the fire that led to his death. 

What Role Did Pham, Lee, And Grande Play?

“Tony’s true friends, not interested in profiting from Tony’s condition, became increasingly concerned about Tony’s health and many were looking for ways to get Tony professional help. Unfortunately, in the months since Tony had left the rehabilitation facility, several less scrupulous people prominently occupied Tony’s attention and were living at large, all at Tony’s expense,” court documents stated in reference to Hsieh’s relationship with Pham, Lee, And Grande. 

Although knowledge of Hsieh’s misuse of drugs and significant drug use and weight loss were said to be known and acknowledged by Pham, Lee, and Grange, they deny any wrongdoing. Hsieh’s family claims that the group extracted millions from him in a few short months.

The post Former Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh’s Family Chronicles Drug Use appeared first on Addiction Center.

This week, television personality Kelly Osbourne checked into a drug and alcohol treatment facility in Austin, Texas. A source close to the 36-year-old was quoted saying that her mother’s controversial exit from The Talk and her father’s Parkinson’s disease diagnosis have both had a massive impact on Osbourne. Additionally, it was reported last week that she had broken up with her boyfriend of one year. These events may have led the reality TV star to relapse adding to her long history with addiction and attempts at rehab. 

The Osbourne’s History With Addiction

Kelly Osbourne is the daughter of “The Godfather of Metal,” Ozzy, and music manager and television personality, Sharon. Ozzy rose to fame in the 1970s as the lead singer of the English heavy metal band, Black Sabbath. After his own struggles with substance use, Ozzy was fired from the band in 1979. Sharon encouraged Ozzy to embark on what would become a very successful solo career that was also riddled with substance use. In fact, Ozzy checked into a rehab facility just 1 day after Kelly was born. This February, Ozzy told Variety that he has been sober for about 7 years. 

At age 13, Kelly was given liquid Vicodin, a prescription Opioid, when she got her tonsils out. In a 2009 interview with People, Kelly recalled that the painkiller made her feel more confident and likable. She then began using prescription drugs, like Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium to cope with feelings of anxiety and depression. 

In 2002, the family moved to Los Angeles and began filming an MTV reality series called The Osbournes. Around this time, Kelly began using drugs to self-medicate with whatever substances she could get her hands on in order to not feel like herself. She has said that prescription drugs, like Vicodin, provided temporary relief from the pressures of being in the public eye, such as the media’s comments on her weight. In 2003, Kelly’s brother Jack sought treatment for an addiction to OxyContin; he has been sober ever since. 

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Kelly Osbourne’s Attempts At Sobriety

When Sharon and Ozzy caught Kelly with prescription drugs at age 19, she went to rehab for the first time at a facility in Malibu. Ultimately, this treatment was unsuccessful which Kelly has said is because she felt too comfortable. One year later, she returned to rehab before moving back to London for 3 years. Although not sober, Kelly has described having some good months and some bad months during this time. 

In 2008, Kelly moved back to LA to film another reality show with her family. Being back in the place where her addiction had been at its worst caused Kelly to relapse. She felt that drugs in LA were too accessible. Kelly recalled in the same 2009 People interview that more than once she threw herself down a flight of stairs in an attempt to get a prescription. 

Because of this 2008 relapse, Kelly’s friends and family demanded that she seek treatment for her addiction. This time during her 30 day treatment program, Kelly learned other ways to cope with her anxiety such as letting others know when she felt anxious and taking breaks. The Osbournes also participated in family therapy as part of this program. 

Despite this attempt at treatment, Kelly continued to struggle with substance use which led to more time spent in rehab and one entrance into a mental hospital. Kelly’s longest period of sobriety came after spending time in a sober living facility in 2017. She remained substance free until spring of this year. In April 2021, Kelly took to instagram to share that after 4 years of sobriety, she had relapsed. 

“I am an addict and had thought that I had enough time under my belt and I could drink like a normal person, and it turns out I cannot and I will never be normal,” Osbourne said on Instagram. She hoped that in sharing what she was going through rather than suffering in silence, she could help others going through the same thing. 

Relapse Can Be Part Of Recovery

For those who struggle with a substance use disorder (SUD), relapsing, like Kelly Osbourne has, is not an uncommon part of the treatment process. Studies have estimated that 40 to 60% of those treated for an addiction will relapse within the first year of completing treatment. Because addiction is a chronic disorder, there is no true cure. With treatment, those with an addiction can manage their drug use and regain control of their lives. Even post-treatment, those with a SUD are considered to be in recovery. 

Relapse can occur to any person in recovery no matter the amount of years they have been sober. Certain people, situations, and environments can trigger individuals who struggle with substance use to relapse. This does not mean that treatment has failed but instead indicates that the individual who has relapsed should speak with their doctor to resume treatment and inquire if modifications or new approaches should be attempted. 

After completing treatment, there are several actions that those with a SUD can do to lower the chance of triggering a relapse. It is suggested that individuals participate in a form of continuing care, such as a 12-step program or therapy. Surrounding oneself with other positive, sober people can also help to create an environment with less relapse triggers. Additionally, remembering the new coping skills learned in treatment is imperative to staying sober after treatment. Most importantly, those in recovery should reach out for help if they feel as if they are going to relapse. 

When Kelly relapsed in April, she spoke on Instagram in an effort to be truthful with her fans. She shared an ideology that many people with a SUD live by. She said, “I just want to let you know that I’m sober today and I’m going to be sober tomorrow. But I’ve truly learned it is just one day at a time.”

The post Kelly Osbourne Checks Into Rehab Again appeared first on Addiction Center.