Jamie Lee Curtis is reflecting on the profound changes in her life over the last 26 years since she chose sobriety.
On Monday, February 3, the Academy Award-winning actress shared a screenshot from her Twelve Steps app on Instagram, showing the exact length of her sobriety in years, months, days, and hours.
“Today marks 26 years since I went to my first recovery meeting. My life has completely changed since that day,” she wrote in her heartfelt caption. “I’ve built amazing, meaningful friendships that have enriched my life beyond recovery, giving me a fulfilling family life and a creative journey I once thought was out of reach.”
At 66, Curtis expressed her appreciation for everyone she has met over the years who have bravely shared their struggles with alcoholism and substance abuse.
The second image in Curtis’ post showed a street view of her Pacific Palisades neighborhood, which had suffered extensive damage from fire, with only a few buildings left standing. During an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on January 8, Curtis spoke emotionally about the devastating California wildfires, saying, “My home is currently on fire. The whole city of Pacific Palisades is burning. I got here last night and started receiving alarming messages. It’s truly awful, everyone. This is a disaster happening in Southern California.”
In her Instagram post about her sobriety, she shared her resolve to not let the tragic impact of the fires shake her commitment to staying sober.
“The small avatar shown in the street image marks the exact spot where I used to go for my weekly meeting in the Palisades, at a church that no longer exists, in a neighborhood that has disappeared. Yet, we are firm in our choice to avoid drinking or using, no matter what happens, and that’s a big promise,” she explained. “Be gentle with yourselves. ONE DAY AT A TIME! I’m here with you.”
A few hours later, Curtis posted another photo of herself in a shirt that said, “I love LA.”
“This represents 66 years of LIFE + 26 years, 312 months, 9,498 days, and 227,913 hours of SOBRIETY FREEDOM,” she wrote in the caption, ending with the hashtag “recovery.”
What else has Jamie Lee Curtis said about her sobriety?
Curtis has previously emphasized the significance of her sobriety. In the past year, she celebrated her 25th anniversary of sobriety on social media.
“One day at a time. 9,125 of them,” the actress captioned a black-and-white photograph on Instagram on February 3, 2024, in which she is seen holding a ring engraved with “JLC Twenty Five.”
“What’s inside, as my old friend Adam sang, is a sense of calm, serenity, purpose, and the profound realization that I am not alone. Many others share the same struggle and the same path to recovery. For those grappling with addiction and shame, know that there are people who care. My hand in yours. Our hands in yours. XO JLC,” she expressed.
In a 2023 appearance on TODAY, shortly after winning her first Academy Award for her performance in “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” Curtis discussed the impact of sobriety on various aspects of her life.
“I have been sober for a considerable time—almost 25 years. The most valuable lesson I learned last year in recovery is that people are not always happy when you cease to prioritize their approval. It felt as though a great sage had imparted this wisdom to me,” Curtis shared with Hoda Kotb during an interview that aired on January 16.
I am endeavoring to embrace my identity fully. Is that not the essence of life? We mature, we acquire knowledge, and we engage in various experiences. Now, it is imperative that we take ownership of our true selves, accept who we are, and acknowledge our limitations. This acceptance is, in my view, the most beautiful aspect of my current existence—fully embracing my identity.
Curtis has candidly discussed her struggle with opiate addiction, which began in the late 1980s after she was prescribed painkillers following a minor cosmetic procedure on her eyes.
“I was at the forefront of the opiate crisis,” she shared with People in 2018. “I spent a decade engaged in theft and deceit. No one was aware. No one.”
In a 2023 interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Curtis reflected on her enjoyment of the opiate experience, expressing that had fentanyl been as readily accessible on the streets during her addiction, she would not have survived. She also mentioned the tragic loss of her brother Nicholas, who died from a heroin overdose at the age of 21.
Curtis battled her addiction for ten years before achieving sobriety in 1999.
Currently, she remains active in her acting career and has authored a children’s book focused on the theme of patience, titled “Just One More Sleep.” While children often look toward the future, Curtis emphasizes the importance of living in the present and being genuine.
“I express my thoughts sincerely, and I strive to communicate them kindly,” she remarked.
“When you are in someone’s presence and experience the authenticity I feel when I am beside you, it is truly remarkable,” Hoda concurred.
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