Russell Brand marked 20 years of sobriety by thanking his friends and family for helping him overcome addiction in a heartfelt video.
The comedian, 47, tackled his issues with drugs and alcohol in 2002 following three months in rehab.
Reflecting on the feat, the Get Him To The Greek star took to Instagram on Tuesday to show his gratitude to “all the people who have helped” him stay clean for two decades, and admitted, “it is never done on your own”.
He shared in the clip: “I’m 20 years clean and sober today. It’s December the 13th. So, firstly I wanted to express my gratitude for all the people who have helped me to remain clean and sober.”
The actor noted that while achieving and maintaining sobriety is “often seen and celebrated as a personal achievement”, he sees it is “a community and spiritual element”.
He continued: “What I have been taught and shown is that it is impossible for a person like me to not drink and use drugs, unless I have sufficient ongoing support from people that understand what it’s like to feel that drugs or alcohol, or you know, certain behaviours, are necessary in order to feel okay.”
Brand explained the purpose of recovery is to wake up from a “world of attachment”, and it’s still an “ongoing process” as he overcomes his need to find “distraction from the outside world”.
He added: "Because I still, every day at 20 years without crack and heroin, without alcohol, still feel strongly, a strong requirement – a strong requirement – to seek approval or connection or validation or pleasure or distraction from the outside world."
The Forgetting Sarah Marshall actor also told his followers who may be struggling with similar issues that “it is possible to change” and work towards a better life.
He said: “There is a way back to dignity, there is a way back to behaving responsibly and caringly – those things are all possible.”
Brand continued and admitted that he was “grateful” he’s been given the chance to live a different life free of addiction to become a father and a husband, revealing: “I don’t live in the reckless, dangerous, selfish way that I used to live.”
The British star has spoken about his battle with addiction in his 2017 book Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions and previously credited yoga and transcendental meditation with helping him overcome his struggles.
The Death on The Nile actor, who was previously married to Katy Perry, tied the knot with his second wife Laura Gallacher, 31, in August 2017.
The couple have welcomed two daughters, Mabel, six, and Peggy, four.
