Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong Talks Drug Addiction Recovery
All of Green Day’s shows were canceled at the end of 2012. Why? Because their front man, Billie Joe Armstrong, was in rehab and getting the help he had long needed to begin the battle against substance abuse.
In his first interview after his stay in treatment, Billie Joe talked to Rolling Stone magazine about his experience with drugs and how he ended up in rehab. He said he would often get so wasted that he couldn’t remember what he had done when he woke up the next morning: “I couldn’t predict where I was going to end up at the end of the night. I’d wake up in a strange house on a couch. I wouldn’t remember how. It was a complete blackout.”
In September, Billie Joe played a show at the iHeart Radio Music Festival and had a total meltdown on stage, and reportedly broke his guitar while screaming: “I’m not ****ing Justin Bieber, you mother****ers!”
Though he doesn’t remember much of what happened, he says: “I remember tiny things. The next morning, I woke up. I asked [my wife] Adrienne, ‘How bad was it?’ She said, ‘It’s bad.’”
Billie Joe called his manager and went into rehab two days later. Now, he’s completely clean and sober and Green Day has rescheduled their tour with dates through the spring.
Billie Joe’s story is a testament to the efficacy of intensive drug rehabilitation. At 41, Billie Joe has been on a bender for years, but when he decided to make the change, he went through treatment and learned how to stay sober for the long-term.
Finding the Courage to Make a Change
When you are a parent or successful in your career as is Billie Joe, it can be difficult to admit that you have a problem and take the time out of your life to go get help. Prioritizing your recovery is difficult – there are always a thousand excuses to continue drinking or getting high. But there are also a thousand reasons to kick drugs and alcohol for good. Imagine a life where you no longer had to worry about:
- Hangovers or “crashing” after using drugs
- Running out of money
- Embarrassing yourself or hurting people you love under the influence
- Health problems related to drug abuse
- Fear of losing your job or being unable to maintain a job once hired
Are You Ready to Make a Change?
A new life is waiting, one that you can design however you choose. Regain control of your behavior, your health, your opportunities, and your future when you get the treatment you need to overcome a substance abuse issue. At Orchid Recovery Center, we’re here to assist you. Call now.