Matthew Perry already heard from some of him friend Co-star on his topical new book, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir, arrived at the bookstore on Tuesday. In it, he describes his years-long struggle with drug and alcohol addiction.
“Well, it’s been a day since the book was published.” town hall in New York City. “So I’ve heard from some of them. It’s very good. And I’m sure I’ll hear from everyone. But it’s amazing what’s going on in this book. It’s on everyone’s mind.” I am touching
Perry later said that thousands of people have already come to him and are confident he can stop using substances because he has. During the livestream, he said he receives help every day.
He also answered the question of who would play him if the book was made into a movie.
A younger version of Perry was played by none other than his co-star in the 2009 body-swapping film. 17 again.
“Well, Zac Efron did it once,” he said.
Perry said he would take over the role later.
“After five months in the hospital, after that horrific night, after my coma, I’ll take over the role,” he said, referring to one of the horror stories that came out of the book. rice field.
In 2018, Perry spent five months in the hospital recovering from opioid abuse that ruptured his colon. He was in a coma and was on life support for two weeks. He underwent 14 operations. He also had to use a colostomy bag for his nine months,Covered in my own s***‘, he estimated 50 to 60 times.
“Doctors told my family that I have an illness. 2% chance of survivingsaid Perry people“I was put on something called an ECMO machine that does all the breathing of the heart and lungs. It’s called Hail Mary. No one can survive it.”
Yet he admitted to having called his drug dealer when he got home.
In an interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer, Perry also said that at one point she was drinking vodka by the quart and taking 55 Vicodin a day.He faked his back injury and migraine to get the latter — plus he “had eight doctors with him at the same time” — or simply go to open house And rummage through the medicine cabinet.
“I think they were like, ‘Oh no, Chandler stole it from us,'” Perry said.
Perry says he spent a total of $9 million to get sober, including countless stays in rehab and detox facilities. At one of them, a treatment center in Switzerland, he was still on medication. stopped beating for 5 minutes.
Reflecting on the experience so far, Perry said he was grateful to Sawyer. friend Co-stars, especially Jennifer Aniston. She is that person.”stretched out my hand’ And even confronted him about his problems.
Perry also spoke about his personal relationships over the years. Him and Valerie Bertinelli When then-husband Eddie Van Halen passed out, he told Tricia Lee Fisher, half-sister of the late Carrie Fisher, about how he lost his virginity.
he also lamented the loss of river phoenixhis co-star A night in the life of Jimmy Reardon, died in 1993. “Why is it that original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger are dead, but Keanu Reeves still walks among us?”
Since the excerpt was published, he has apologized for referring to Reeves, saying he “chosen the name at random.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Management Treatment Referral Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357).