Eminem has been open about his history of drug and alcohol abuse. And in 2007, he had a severe overdose that nearly took his life. From that moment, Eminem made the decision to begin bettering himself and ultimately checked himself into a recovery center in 2008. On Saturday, April 20, Eminem took to social media to share a milestone in his recovery.
The rapper posted a photo on Instagram to share the news that he is celebrating 11 years of sobriety.
“11 years – still not afraid,” Eminem wrote.
During a profile for Men’s Journal, Eminem discussed the nearly fatal overdose.
“I overdosed on pills, and I went into the hospital,” Eminem said. “I was close to 230 pounds. I’m not sure how I got so big, but I have ideas. The coating on the Vicodin and the Valium I’d been taking for years leaves a hole in your stomach, so to avoid a stomachache, I was constantly eating—and eating badly.”
The opening verse of his track “Arose” also shared his thoughts from the hospital while he was recovering from the overdose, reflecting on all that he had left to do in his career and life.
And I can feel my soul leave my body
And float across the room
Nurses lean over the bed
Pulling tubes out
Then the sheet over my head
Shut the room down
Girls, please don’t get upset
I see those cheeks soaking and wet
As you squeeze hold of my neck
So forcibly, don’t wanna let
Me go, pillow drenched
Emotional wrecks
With every second each closer to death
But suddenly, I feel my heart
Begin to beat slow, then a breath
Machines go (beep, beep, beep)
Must’ve guessed the cheat codes to this shit
I’m tryna rewind time like a tape
Find an escape
Make a beeline
Try and awake
From this dream, I need to re-find
My inner strength
To remind me
Even if a steep climb I must take
To rewrite a mistake
I’m rewinding the tape
Congratulations to Eminem on the huge achievement.
