Wes Bentley Shares Story of Addiction, Hopes to Rebuild Career
The 31-year-old told the New York Times that he spent most of the last decade in drug dens, doing cocaine at night and sleeping during the day.
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February 10, 2010
Wes Bentley acquired fame and fortune after his turn in the Oscar-winning movie American Beauty, but the actor recently confessed that the instant stardom had a dark side, forcing him into drugs and alcohol to cope.
The 31-year-old told the New York Times that he spent most of the last decade in drug dens, doing cocaine at night and sleeping during the day. Broke and exhausted, he hit the bottom last July at which point he admitted to a friend that he was an addict and needed help.
This breakthrough allowed him to enter rehab, and he says he has been sober for seven months. Bentley also hopes his story will serve as a cautionary tale for aspiring actors. "If you want to be artistic, if you want to be creative, if you want to express yourself, you can't let things get in your way, and drugs are included in that," he said, quoted by the news source.
Cocaine is the second most commonly used illicit drug in the U.S., and nearly 15 percent of Americans aged 12 or older have used it at least once. It is also estimated that more than 15,000 deaths annually are associated with the use of stimulants.
Overcoming addiction is among the most difficult struggles in anyone's life, but experts say with proper motivation it is possible. Seeking help with appropriately trained physicians and addiction specialists is key to success, but a trusted network of family and friends who can help customize and support the treatment program is also crucial.
There is a variety of resources available both off and online that can sustain recovering and recovered addicts, and prevent a relapse. Interested individuals may visit the website of Recovery Connection for more information.
Wes Bentley acquired fame and fortune after his turn in the Oscar-winning movie American Beauty, but the actor recently confessed that the instant stardom had a dark side, forcing him into drugs and alcohol to cope.
The 31-year-old told the New York Times that he spent most of the last decade in drug dens, doing cocaine at night and sleeping during the day. Broke and exhausted, he hit the bottom last July at which point he admitted to a friend that he was an addict and needed help.
This breakthrough allowed him to enter rehab, and he says he has been sober for seven months. Bentley also hopes his story will serve as a cautionary tale for aspiring actors. "If you want to be artistic, if you want to be creative, if you want to express yourself, you can't let things get in your way, and drugs are included in that," he said, quoted by the news source.
Cocaine is the second most commonly used illicit drug in the U.S., and nearly 15 percent of Americans aged 12 or older have used it at least once. It is also estimated that more than 15,000 deaths annually are associated with the use of stimulants.
Overcoming addiction is among the most difficult struggles in anyone's life, but experts say with proper motivation it is possible. Seeking help with appropriately trained physicians and addiction specialists is key to success, but a trusted network of family and friends who can help customize and support the treatment program is also crucial.
There is a variety of resources available both off and online that can sustain recovering and recovered addicts, and prevent a relapse. Interested individuals may visit the website of Recovery Connection for more information.
