Alec Baldwin's Battle: From Near "27 Club" Member to Sobriety
Alec Baldwin, initially grappling with drug addiction, later battled alcohol dependency. He was once a prime candidate to join the tragic "27 Club," alongside famous figures like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, who passed away at 27. Although Baldwin has been sober for years, he recently acknowledged the ongoing temptation of his past vices.
5:19 PM EDT, May 7, 2024
Baldwin successfully overcame his drug addiction in the mid-1980s before making his film debut in movies such as "Beetlejuice," "Working Girl," and "The Hunt for Red October." His drug issues began shortly after relocating from Los Angeles to New York to kickstart his television career.
"I never strayed from the 'white path' for two years. I think I snorted a line of cocaine as long as the distance to Saturn, circled its ring, and then found my way back home. Back then, cocaine was as common as coffee, consumed all day by everyone," Baldwin recounted on the podcast "Our Way."
From drugs to alcohol
Baldwin's journey with drugs ended after an overdose.
"I had no clue what was happening. I felt a sudden jolt in my chest before losing consciousness," he shared in his autobiography "Nevertheless."
Baldwin was rescued and overcame his cocaine addiction but then turned to alcohol to fill the void. Remarkably, he got sober just a few months before his 27th birthday.
"I was incredibly fortunate as not many people manage to get sober at a young age. It was a tumultuous time, filled with great pain," he admitted on "Good Morning America."
"I miss drinking"
Now, 39 years later, Alec Baldwin still faces internal struggles.
"I don’t miss drugs, but I do miss drinking. I enjoyed it," he disclosed in the podcast.
On July 10, Baldwin will face trial, accused of involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie "Rust."
