Brad Pitt's Sobriety Journey

Brad Pitt is a household name as famous as Hollywood itself. From Academy Awards to People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” to the countless nominations that Pitt has received, he is undoubtedly an influential figure in the entertainment world. Through the screen, Brad Pitt seemingly had the perfect life. His marriage with Angelina Jolie and their six children appeared to be the happy ending of the kind of  Hollywood movie romance we only dream of. 

When talk of divorce hit tabloids, and Pitt came clean about his alcohol misuse, fans were shattered by the reality of it all. Since then, Pitt has shared his sobering journey to living alcohol-free — a story we can all learn from. From his experience, we can get a firsthand account of the detrimental impacts of alcohol and get inspired to start on our own journey to sobriety.

Celebrities and Alcohol Misuse 

Celebrities and alcohol misuse are no strangers to each other. A 2015 analysis completed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), reports the entertainment industry has the second highest rate of reported substance misuse. 

Alcohol misuse can stem from several different psychosocial factors. Unique characteristics of celebrities’ public influence impact these factors. Celebrities' increased susceptibility to alcohol misuse can be attributed to common experiences in their role as public figures.

• Societal pressure. Celebrities maintain a public identity, exposing every aspect of their lives to be scrutinized. While many of us may glamorize life in the limelight, the pressure that accompanies a life of fame is not to be overlooked.
• High expectations. The pressure of meeting societal or performance expectations can cause increased stress, which can lead to anxiety or depression. The prevalence of alcohol misuse is commonly linked to mental health disorders. 
• Party environments. Fame and flashy parties go hand in hand. Parties are often accompanied by a hefty drinking culture. Constantly surrounded by booze, celebrities have higher chances of developing dependence. 
• Creative intellect. The entertainment industry features some of society’s most creative minds. Research shows that artistic minds are tied to a higher susceptibility to substance misuse and mental illness. 

While we’ve determined that fame can play a role in alcohol misuse, let’s take a closer look at Brad Pitt’s relationship with alcohol. 

Brad Pitt, Alcohol, and Where Things Took a Turn

Most of us recognize Brad Pitt from the silver screen, but let’s take a closer look at his personal and professional life to better understand where alcohol fits in.

Alcohol and Where It All Began

Brad Pitt attended the University of Missouri until he decided to move to California, just two credits short of graduating. He confesses that leaving college marks the start of his excessive drinking, recalling that he couldn’t remember any day after college that he wasn't “boozing.” Pitt lived in Los Angeles working odd jobs and taking acting lessons.

The Start of Brad Pitt’s Acting Career

At 23, Pitt began his acting career with guest appearances in TV shows like 21 Jump Street and Dallas. Less than eight years later, Pitt won his first Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in 12 Monkeys. Brad’s career and fame continued to soar after his performances in Fight Club and Ocean’s Eleven. 

Brad Pitt’s Stardom 

Following a stream of successful acting roles, Pitt started a production company, backing notable films like Troy and The Departed. As time went on, Pitt continued to star in and produce award-winning films, notably Moneyball and World War Z. During his rise to stardom, Brad Pitt and actress Angelina Jolie introduced six children into their family before marrying — cementing their status as one of Hollywood’s iconic duos and earning the affectionate portmanteau “Brangelina.” Pitt notes that after starting his family, he discontinued his other vices aside from drinking. He later shared in a GQ interview that he used alcohol “as an escape” and a way to “run from feelings.” 

Things Take a Turn

As a shock to all, Angelina filed for divorce in 2016, citing the “health of the family.” Shortly after, Pitt revealed that he struggled with alcohol misuse; he has since committed to living sober. In later interviews, Pitt shared that his separation from Jolie is in part attributed to his negative relationship with alcohol. Since their separation, there have been multiple legal battles, child abuse allegations, and domestic violence allegations that have surfaced. To this day, there continue to be disruptions to Pitt’s, Jolie’s, and their children’s lives — speaking to the serious detrimental impacts that alcohol misuse can cause. 

What Subtype of Alcohol Misuse Did Brad Pitt Fall Into? 

Until Brad Pitt disclosed his toxic relationship with alcohol, few could have guessed anything was going on. This speaks to the category of alcohol use disorder that Pitt fell into. Understanding the different types that exist helps us understand where we may fit in and how we can overcome misuse. 

Pitt was able to uphold his personal and professional life despite his alcohol misuse. Contrary to our common expectation of what those struggling with alcohol use disorder are like, “functional alcoholics” can appear to be responsible, high-achieving, and stable. They can maintain steady jobs and seemingly happy families. Pitt even speaks to his ability to hide his drinking in the GQ interview, stating, “I was a professional. I was good.” 

The functional alcohol use disorder subtype is dangerous because it is difficult to detect. Early intervention in alcohol misuse is the most effective way to prevent alcohol use disorder, but the smokescreen of the functional subtype makes it difficult to recognize that intervention may be needed. According to Brad Pitt, alcoholism played a part in his divorce — leaving us to speculate if it could have been prevented if his misuse had been detected and treated earlier. 

Along with the functional subtype, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recognizes four other categories within alcohol use disorder (AUD):

• Young adult. This subtype is the largest group and is made up of young adults with a low incidence of co-occurring substance dependence and hereditary alcohol misuse. Those of us in this subtype are also unlikely to seek treatment. 
• Young antisocial. Distinctive from the young adult subtype, the young antisocial group has higher rates of co-occurring mental disorders and other substance dependences. 
• Intermediate familial. This category is similar to the functional subtype, but those of us in this group may not be able to hide our misuse as successfully. Higher incidences of multigenerational alcohol misuse and other substance dependences occur in this group. 
• Chronic severe. Those of us in this subtype have an early onset of alcohol misuse. High rates of criminality, co-occurring psychiatric disorders, multigenerational alcohol misuse, and other substance dependences are defining factors of the chronic severe subtype.

Although Brad Pitt was able to maintain a superficial functionality in his personal and professional life for some time, his alcohol misuse ultimately surfaced. Let’s take a look at Brad’s recount of his journey to sobriety.

How Did Brad Pitt Sober Up?

Brad Pitt credits his decision to pursue sobriety to his close friend and fellow actor, Bradley Cooper, who is also among the list of celebrities who have spoken out against alcohol misuse. Pitt acknowledged Cooper’s influence during a 2020 Awards Gala speech. 

Pitt also disclosed that he attended Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings for a year and a half, which he attributes his recovery to. He speaks highly of the meetings, noting that it was a “safe space where there was little judgment.” 

Along with attending AA meetings, Pitt revealed that self-discovery was also an integral part of his journey to sobriety. During an interview with The New York Times, Pitt shared that he spent most of his life hiding his pain, grief, and loss, but during his recovery, he was able to uncover these hidden feelings. “It was actually really freeing just to explore the ugly sides of yourself. There’s great value in that,” Pitt divulged. 

From Brad’s story of sobering up, we can conclude that positive role models, peer support, and self-discovery were key components of his recovery. 

Does Brad Pitt Drink Today?

Pitt reports that he hasn’t had a drink since he found sobriety in 2016, but he has since come out with a brand of gin, The Gardener, inspired by the French Riviera, where he fell in love with Jolie. While Pitt is the co-owner of a winery and the creator of a brand of gin, he claims that he does not partake in the tasting of the alcohol and continues his commitment to sobriety. 

Pitt is among a growing list of sober stars who help to highlight the positive aspects of cutting back or quitting alcohol. According to him, sobriety opens the door to a multitude of benefits. Let’s explore them.

Sobriety Benefits From Brad’s Lens

In toxic relationships, it can be difficult to recognize the hopeful prospects of a life without the other person until we are out of it. The same is true of a toxic relationship with alcohol. From Brad Pitt’s and others’ experiences, we can outline some of the many benefits of an alcohol-free life to motivate us to start our own journey. When considering sobriety, keeping these benefits in mind can help inspire us:

• Improved physical health. The toxins in alcohol are detrimental to our health and contribute to the risk of developing disease and cancer. Quitting alcohol will improve the function of all the systems in our body. It can also reduce sleep disruptions, increasing our energy levels.
• Emotional stability. Alcohol wreaks havoc on our emotional regulation. Sobriety can improve our overall mood and lead to greater stress tolerance. 
• More time and money. Time and money spent on booze can add up quickly. Saying no to alcohol will free up our time and money to spend on other areas of our lives.
• Better relationships. With alcohol out of the way, we can pour more energy into developing and maintaining positive relationships with our friends and family.
• Overall quality of life. Sobriety opens the door to self-growth and exploration of the things that bring us joy and fulfillment.

Now that we have learned what there is to look forward to in sobriety, let’s explore some steps that we can take.

Starting Your Journey to Sobriety

Sobriety may not be an easy journey, but the destination is well worth it. Pursuing a sober life includes three main steps.

• Evaluate. The first step to beginning a journey to sobriety is evaluating our current relationship with alcohol. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) provides indicators to help recognize alcohol and substance misuse. There is a common misconception that only those of us who struggle with alcohol use disorder should strive for sobriety. However, anyone who is looking to live a healthier life can embark on a journey to sobriety at any time.

• Set Goals. After determining where we are in our relationship with alcohol, we can set SMART goals to help us reach our main objective. Setting clear goals helps us take actionable steps daily and keeps us accountable. 

• Seek Support. Support decreases the chance of relapse and can be instrumental in getting sober. Having a support system can ensure that we have encouragement during trying times and motivation to continue. Some methods of receiving support during recovery include professional therapies, family and friends, and peer support groups.

It Doesn’t End Here

Brad Pitt, among many other influential people, has come out to share his personal experience of healing his relationship with alcohol and committing to sobriety. Popular media tends to focus on the drama and more trivial aspects of celebrities’ lives. However, with more and more influential people speaking out and sharing their stories, it puts the spotlight back on one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in the world — alcohol misuse. Let Pitt inspire us to start our journey to sobriety!