The new documentary How to Make Money Selling Drugs features Eminem opening up about his addictive past, revealing that one particular overdose almost took his life
The multi-platinum rapper, who sought recovery for a sleeping pill addiction in 2005 and addressed the issue on his 2010 record Recovery, has admitted to a 10-20 Vicodin-per-day habit. “Valium, Ambien, the numbers got so high I don’t even know what I’m taking,” he related after rehabilitation.
Prescription Drugs
The new documentary details the steps that lead to a prescription drug addiction that nearly ended in tragedy. “My bottom was going to be death,” he says in the YouTube teaser. Remembering his first Vicodin experience, the singer explains a “feeling of ‘Ahhh,” everything was not only mellow, but didn’t feel any pain. It just kind of numbed things.”
The artist says that it was difficult coming to terms with the addiction since he was steering clear on street drugs like heroin or crack.
“I don’t know what point exactly it started to be a problem, I just remember liking it more and more,” he says.
Loved Ones’ Involvement
If loved ones tried to discuss the issue, “I would say, ‘Get that f—— person outta here, I can’t believe they said that s—- to me,” he explains. “They don’t know nothing about my f——– life, are they out of their f——– mind? I’m not out there shooting heroin, I’m not out there putting coke up my nose, I’m not smoking crack’ … I literally thought I could control it.”
Over time, the addiction caught up to the Detroit native, as he recounts the overdose that almost took his life.
“Had I got to the hospital about two hours later, I would have died,” he says. “My organs were shutting down. My liver, kidneys, everything. They were gonna have to put me on dialysis, they didn’t think I was gonna make it.”
Realization
Following his hospital stay, Eminem says he experienced sleepless nights for three weeks before falling into relapse a month later. “I remember just walking around my house and thinking every single day, like, I’m gonna f——— die. I’m looking at my kinds, and like, I need to be here for this.”
After regaining talking skills and motor skills, the Grammy winner remembers how far he’s home since the addiction.
“It’s been a learning process,” he says. “I’m growing. I just couldn’t believe that anybody could be naturally happy or naturally function or be just enjoying life in general without being on something.
He adds, “So I would say to anybody, ‘It does get better you know. It just does.”
Healing
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