Actor Charlie Sheen is bravely opening up about a lifelong struggle with substance abuse that began as a coping mechanism for his stuttering. In a candid interview with Good Morning America co-anchor Michael Strahan, Sheen discussed the profound impact of his speech impediment on his life and how it ultimately led him to alcohol as a means of feeling more liberated.
Sheen revealed that he has dealt with stuttering since childhood, a challenge that pushed him to seek relief through drinking. "Drinking just... it softened the edges," he shared, explaining that alcohol provided him with a sense of freedom of speech. It wasn't until he starred in the sitcom Spin City in 2000 that he felt comfortable enough to discuss his stutter with his co-stars and colleagues. Reflecting on his experience, he noted, "When I got the first script for 'Spin,' I was like, 'Oh, that's a problem. That's gonna be a problem. I can't say that.'”
Prior to his breakthrough role, Sheen found himself deeply entrenched in addiction, battling both alcohol and crack cocaine since first trying the latter in 1992. His struggles led to multiple stints in rehabilitation centers, starting with an intervention staged by his family in 1990. At just 24 years old, Sheen faced the challenge of getting sober amidst the pressures of his career in the entertainment industry.
Reflecting on his path to recovery, Sheen stated, "It's hard to ask for help when somebody else has raised your hand for you." He spoke about the desire to maintain control over his life, a theme that resonated throughout his journey. In the late 1990s, Sheen's family intervened again when his father, Martin Sheen, reported him for violating probation. Although it felt like a betrayal at the time, Sheen later recognized it as an act of love.
Despite achieving sobriety, Sheen faced new challenges while working on the hit TV series Two and a Half Men. He relapsed into substance use, this time with prescription pills, while trying to hide his struggles from those around him. "It's a terrible feeling," he admitted, recalling the constant worry over who knew about his condition. In 2011, amid the show's peak success, Sheen was again sent to rehab, leading to a hiatus and ultimately his dismissal from the series.
In 2017, Sheen made the pivotal decision to quit alcohol entirely, declaring himself completely sober since then. He has since worked diligently to mend relationships with loved ones and make amends for the pain caused during his battle with addiction. His journey, along with the highs and lows of his life, is further explored in his upcoming memoir, The Book of Sheen, which was released on September 9, as well as in the Netflix docuseries AKA Charlie Sheen.
As he moves forward, Charlie Sheen expresses a desire to be recognized as a writer and author. He believes that the best parts of his life could still be ahead of him, saying, "This story should've ended 100 times 20 years ago, and it didn't. So whatever happens next might be just where some of the real gold has been hidden." Sheen's journey serves as a testament to resilience and the ongoing battle many face in the realm of addiction.
