Justin Bieber Opens Up About His Past Drug Addiction, Saying Sometimes His Security Had to Check If He Was Breathing

Photo credit: Gotham - Getty Images
Photo credit: Gotham - Getty Images

From Cosmopolitan

Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin's Vogue cover interview went live today, and in it, Justin talks about pretty much everything, including his relationship with drugs.

He described a time in his life where he was addicted to Xanax, trying to numb the feelings of shame he had while living a life that didn't quite match up to what he'd grown up with.

“I found myself doing things that I was so ashamed of, being super-promiscuous and stuff, and I think I used Xanax because I was so ashamed," he said. "My mom always said to treat women with respect. For me that was always in my head while I was doing it, so I could never enjoy it. Drugs put a screen between me and what I was doing. It got pretty dark. I think there were times when my security was coming in late at night to check my pulse and see if I was still breathing.”

He talked about a detox he did back in 2014 at his then-pastor Carl Lentz's house, and said that although he drinks alcohol in social settings now, he hasn't had drugs since that detox five years ago, which makes his wife(!) really happy.

"I’m really proud of him. To do it without a program, and to stick with it without a sober coach or AA or classes-I think it’s extraordinary. He is, in ways, a walking miracle,” Hailey said during the interview.

That time of "promiscuity" that he mentioned was what he described as him having "a legitimate problem with sex.” He became celibate for over a year to try to get a handle on that problem, which is when he met Hailey.

"I wanted to rededicate myself to God in that way because I really felt it was better for the condition of my soul," he said. "And I believe that God blessed me with Hailey as a result. There are perks. You get rewarded for good behavior.”


If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 24-hour treatment referral hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit Findtreatment.samhsa.gov for free and confidential help. In the case of a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.

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