Profiles Of Addiction Recovery | Steven Tyler

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has struggled with drug abuse for the majority of his professional career. According to Tyler and his band Aerosmith, the lead singer has abused a variety of drugs since he was 16, alongside his bandmates.

Steven Tyler recounted his relationship with drug use, fame, music, and personal health and recovery in his 2004 book Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?: A Rock’N’Roll Memoir.

Tyler’s road to recovery has not been linear, as he has relapsed several times throughout his life. Despite his releases, he credits a strong support system and a strong mental outlook for reasons why he continues to seek recovery.

Early Drug Use

Steven Tyler’s first experience with drug abuse came when he was 16 years old, when he smoked marijuana for the first time. 

Despite this early introduction, he told Haute Living in a 2019 interview that his drug and alcohol use was reasonable as Aerosmith rose to fame through the 1970’s.

Heavy Substance Use

Aerosmith would engage in heavy substance abuse as the 1970s came to an end. Methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, benzodiazepines, and alcohol may have been a fraction of the drugs the band abused during this time.

The ubiquitous rock band started to represent a fast, unrepentant, and dangerous lifestyle, emblematic of the rock genre at the time. In later interviews, Tyler would point out the lack of support systems at the time, further encouraging his drug abuse.

2000s-Present

Steven Tyler continued to battle drug addiction in the decades that followed. He again entered treatment for painkiller addiction in 2009, celebrating sobriety from drugs and alcohol after completing his program. He would remain sober until 2022.

In 2022, the 74-year-old Tyler went through foot surgery while the band was completing a Las Vegas residency. He relapsed on pain medication shortly after and decided to enter a treatment program. 

In a statement, Tyler’s bandmates supported his decision to focus on his well-being, canceling several residency dates in the process.

Steven Tyler’s Recovery Efforts

In 1988, Tyler’s bandmates and manager held an intervention, giving him an ultimatum to seek treatment or leave Aerosmith. 

Tyler initially feared that seeking drug addiction treatment would hurt his songwriting and musical abilities, as his success had become synonymous with drug and alcohol abuse. He agreed to seek help and emerged sober.

Steven Tyler credits his bandmates and close friends for directing him to treatment. According to him, Aerosmith band members Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Joey Kramer, and others were instrumental in supporting him through his struggles.

Rehab & Addiction Treatment

Steven Tyler entered addiction treatment programs multiple times throughout the 1980s, though only his 1988 recovery program was successful. He cites this stint in rehab as the turning point in his substance abuse habits.

In interviews before his 2022 relapse, Steven Tyler admitted that his approach to drug abuse was bad for his health and career. 

Seeking help improved mental health in areas he hadn’t been aware of previously. He stated the band played “better than we did 50 years ago,” citing his sobriety and new approach to life.

Recovery Is Possible

Although drug and alcohol addiction are chronic health conditions, recovery is always possible. To learn how we make recovery possible for individuals and families, please contact us today.