Jamie Lee Curtis was reportedly addicted to opiods for ten years--a secret she managed to keep from her entire family. That is, until her sister stepped in and saved her from herself.
Nobody knew that Curtis was addicted to opiods, including the public and her husband:
Jamie Lee Curtis reveals new details of former opioid addictionwww.youtube.com
According to People, Curtis became addicted to Vicodin in 1989 after minor plastic surgery.
"I had a 10-year run, stealing, conniving. No one knew," Curtis said. And until she was forced to confess to her older sister in 1998, it remained a secret.
"I knew she had them in her suitcase in our guest room closet," she said. "I basically took all her opiates. When she was leaving I knew she would pack her suitcase and find her pills missing. I knew I had to acknowledge to her what I had done, and so I wrote her a note and left it on her suitcase. I came home that day, and she put her arms around me and told me she loved me and she was concerned about me and she was unwilling to watch me kill myself."
Curtis says it was a surprise to her that her sister reacted with such love and support.
"The shame involved with it is tremendous. I have worked very hard to remove the shame of it and just acknowledge I'm human."
@jamieleecurtis I'm 63 male n admitting that I have the same problem with opiods you had, its been 10 yrs of lyin,… https://t.co/BtZ2aoJK6D— the brown (@the brown) 1540398055.0
It's so brave of her to share her story ❤️ A lot of people in this country are living through the same thing right… https://t.co/CsSNnb1Mzl— Thrifty Sue (@Thrifty Sue) 1540479719.0
"I don't know if any of us can really explain what #addiction is exactly, because I think it changes with each indi… https://t.co/0IHS2pMFz1— Opioid Justice Team (@Opioid Justice Team) 1540481400.0
@NYDailyNews @morgfair Jamie Lee Curtis is a hero in so many ways, a true woman of service to those in need. Gratef… https://t.co/ocJfXhnfmA— Liberty Mitchell (@Liberty Mitchell) 1540430650.0
Curtis' first recovery meeting came after she found an article in Esquire by writer Tom Chiarella titled "Vicodin, My Vicodin". Since that meeting on February 3rd, 1999, she has been sober.
Twenty years later, Curtis still attends sobriety meetings. "In recovery meetings, anyone who brings up opiates, the entire room will turn and look at me, because I'll be like, 'Oh, here, talk to me. I'm the opiate girl.'"
@HuffPost Bravo and thank you to @jamieleecurtis — for her courage to speak boldly about addiction and recovery— Douglas Price (@Douglas Price) 1539982854.0
@HuffPost @jamieleecurtis it’s hard for people to understand. Being an addict takes its toll on your family. Your b… https://t.co/rq3VSSjZTo— Andrew Clem (Clemagraphics) (@Andrew Clem (Clemagraphics)) 1540007836.0
@HuffPost @alstonboy4315 I want to send this to a former associate of mine.— Chris (@Chris) 1539978694.0
@HuffPost She's one of the best.— Tim Maloney (@Tim Maloney) 1539978399.0
"Getting sober remains my single greatest accomplishment… bigger than my husband, bigger than both of my children and bigger than any work, success, failure. Anything."
We hope this courageous act inspires any reader struggling with addiction to reach out and find help.