On April 20, 2008, Eminem started the new chapter of his life, recovering from substance abuse.
Having had a near-death experience after an overdose, Marshall had to stop if he wanted to be there for his children, and he did.
The problem was that he did not feel it had been a problem as he was hooked on prescription drugs, which gave this addiction the fleur of normality.
In the documentary about the opioid epidemic in the US, “How To Make Money Selling Drugs”, released in 2013, Eminem says:
I don’t know at what point exactly it started to be a problem. I just remember liking it more and more.
However, Marshall was not open to the idea that these pills started to screw his life up. As any addict. He would become very defensive at even the slightest hint at him being in trouble:
People tried to tell me that I had a problem. I would say, “Get that fucking person out of here. I can’t believe they said that shit to me. They know nothing about me. They know nothing about my fucking life. Are they out of their mind?!”
Until one day, his body could not take it anymore:
My organs were shutting down. My liver, kidneys, everything… They didn’t think I was going to make it. My bottom was going to be death. The doctors told me I’d done the equivalent of four bags of heroin. They said I was about two hours from dying.
His unlikely supporter on the road to recovery became Elton John, with whom Eminem remained in touch after performing together on the Grammy stage.
Marshall had tough times learning how to rap and write without being under the influence. The new era that started with his outstanding album “Recovery” is the era of Eminem with his mind clean and sharp, the era of Eminem being grown up, Eminem who walked to the very edge — and came back.
His journey has inspired thousands of people around the world in their own struggle with addiction. Every year they look up at him with a special feeling and find companionship and support in knowing that Marshal went through this hell and appeared from the other side the better person.
Congratulations to Eminem on his 13 years-long road to recovery.
