Joe Budden reveals Percocet and OxyContin addiction
Joe Budden has opened up about being addicted to Percocet and OxyContin years ago.
Budden is now a famed podcaster with his self-titled show, The Joe Budden Podcast, having previously co-hosted Everyday Struggle.
But during his days as a rapper, he was suffering from a serious drug addiction. Appearing on Club Shay Shay, he detailed his battle that started around 2008 or 2009.
His addiction stemmed from a hand issue that resulted in him going to the hospital. From there, he was introduced to drugs.
“They prescribed me with medicine, Percs were on that list,” he began. “When I left the hospital, I was hooked to Percs. I was addicted to Percocets and OxyContin. And I was able to get them on the street-level in bulk. My Altoid case would be rocking. I didn’t leave home with less than 40 pills on me. 30s too. Big boys. So, l didn’t leave home without them, just in case you bumped into a party.”
Budden recalled the withdrawal symptoms he experienced while attempting to quit drugs. “You do that long enough, your body starts to become almost dependent on it,” he explained. “And if you get off it or try to get off it, you’ll start going through these really deep and intense withdrawals. Cold sweats at night. I couldn’t live like that. I was killing myself slowly but surely.”
Reflecting now, he’s grateful that he went through that struggle before fentanyl became a popular drug in the US.
“I thank God every day that I experienced that at the time that I did because that was before fentanyl,” he said. “What fentanyl is out here doing and how undetectable it is. Unless you’re out there actually testing every drug that you take, the pill head that I was? I would have killed myself. No doubt about it. I’d have been dead. Just like that.”
Budden didn’t go to rehab for it, instead crediting his family and friends for supporting him when he needed it.
“I mean, I don’t want to say I woke up one day like I just had all of this self-control,” he said. “My parents were instrumental in that, my friend group and everybody in my life was really instrumental in weaning me off of that stuff. And it wasn’t overnight. It was a struggle, indeed. But again, I thank God it happened back then and not now.”