Eminem, the iconic 51-year-old rapper born Marshall Mathers, took to Instagram to celebrate a significant milestone: 16 years of sobriety. The “Lose Yourself” artist shared a photo of a commemorative chip he received, symbolizing his ongoing commitment to a sober lifestyle.
The post, shared on Saturday, April 20, was devoid of a caption and quickly became a hub of positivity and support from fans and fellow artists alike.
Eminem's journey to sobriety began with a harrowing wake-up call. In 2007, he experienced a near-fatal drug overdose, which he later described as a pivotal moment that spurred him to seek help.
At the height of his addiction, he admitted to consuming up to 20 pills a day.
Speaking to the New York Times in 2011, Eminem detailed his struggles with addiction, revealing that the title of his album “Recovery” was a direct reference to his battle against substances like Vicodin, Valium, and Ambien.
Eminem has said his battle with addiction began when he was filing his movie "8 Mile" (Image: Wire Image via Page Six)
He also unknowingly took methadone, a drug that led to his overdose. "I remember when I first got sober and all the s--- was out of my system, I remember just being, like, really happy and everything was f------ new to me again," he shared during an appearance on Paul Rosenberg's Paul Pod podcast in 2022.
In an interview with Men’s Journal in 2015, Eminem emphasized the role his fitness played in his recovery.
“When I got out of rehab, I needed to lose weight, but I also needed to figure out a way to function sober,” he told the magazine.
“Unless I was blitzed out of my mind, I had trouble sleeping. So I started running. It gave me a natural endorphin high, but it also helped me sleep, so it was perfect.”