Gerard Butler enters rehab, he’s being treated for substance abuse problems

Gerard Butler is in rehab!! OMG. After I abandoned him for Michael Fassbender, it seems like Gerard fell into a deep, dark hole full of random vadge, cocaine and prescription medication. Poor guy – but that’s what happens when you lose my love – you go to a very dark place. I’m only joking around, of course. In all seriousness, I’ve had my doubts about Gerard’s sobriety for a while. Gerry famously gave up alcohol in his 20s, when he realized he was having problems. He’s spoken about his alcoholism (though he never called it that) at length in interviews. But I had always heard random pieces of gossip about Gerry doing coke, and that some recreational drug use was part of his lifestyle, along with the usual buffet of strange (if the man could main-line vadge, he would). Anyway, TMZ has more details about Gerard’s trip to rehab:

Gerard Butler is being treated for substance abuse at the Betty Ford Center … TMZ has learned.

Butler’s problems were triggered by the physical demands of shooting “300” in 2006. We’re told the actor began struggling with pain management, and the problem became exacerbated while filming “Of Men and Mavericks,” when Butler was badly hurt on December 18 during a surfing accident.

We’re told Butler realized he was relying too much on prescription drugs and decided to head off a full-blown addiction by entering Betty Ford 3 weeks ago.

Sources tell TMZ … Butler also developed issues with cocaine, but the root problem appears to be the injuries and pain management.

We’re told Butler will be leaving Betty Ford later today.

[From TMZ]

Do I believe this sanitized version? Sure, I partly believe it. I think it’s perfectly possible that Gerard’s biggest addiction problem is with prescription medication, like Vicodin or something like that. I’m also guessing that Gerard was a recreational cocaine user, and that he was becoming a habitual user. Maybe he thought he was okay as long as he wasn’t mixing the stuff with alcohol? I don’t know. I do feel sorry for the big lug. Unlike so many celebrities with addiction issues, Gerard never flaunted his problems, and he was never a mess in public. He’s been dealing with all of this stuff in private – with one exception: the Brandi Glanville stuff. Do his addiction issues explain his affair with Brandi? Or does Gerard also have “addiction issues” with sex too? It wouldn’t surprise me if he was a sex addict. For real.

Poor Gerry. I hope he deals with this stuff properly and comes back a stronger person. He and Russell Brand can do yoga together.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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73 Responses to “Gerard Butler enters rehab, he’s being treated for substance abuse problems”

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  1. Zelda says:

    I’d have to be high to sleep with Brandi Glanville, too.

  2. Marjalane says:

    I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these celebs who’ve been playing fast and loose with pills and booze have had to take a hard look at what happened to Whitney Houston. I think he’s a dirty manwhore, but I’m glad he’s getting himself some help.

  3. Snowpea says:

    He looks like Matthew McConnaghey’s Rastafarian brother – and that’s saying something!

    He looks like the guy who drops out and goes and lives in a yurt somewhere and studies the Slow Food Movement. But he also looks like a total KNOB!

    • MJ says:

      Oh, man. As someone who lives in British Columbia, I know exactly what you’re saying. It’s true.

  4. brin says:

    Good for him for getting help. Hope he is doing well.

  5. samira677 says:

    The only thing shocking about this story is nobody knew for 3 weeks.

    • carrie says:

      yes,it’s true! where are the blind items when the gossips are true?

      • NotaBitterBetty says:

        Too busy making up stories about the triangle of doom is my guess. The real news passes on by.

      • normades says:

        Wasn’t there some blind about an actor dating a woman with a kid and he said something like “as long as the kid doesn’t touch the coke”. That was suppossed to be about the Butler.

      • Jen34 says:

        How about this one?

        “This A-List movie star is snorting mountains of cocaine. And although his drug problem is common knowledge in Hollywood, top actresses are dawn to the handsome hunk like a magnet and he continues to put notches on his own bed post.” [Enquirer]

      • normades says:

        From CDAN: He is not really coke dad, because he is not a dad, but this B-/C+ actor has made it very clear to his new celebrity/reality star? girlfriend who is a mom that he plans on continuing to party whether there is a child present or not. “Just keep the kid away from the coke, and there will not be a problem.”

    • QQ says:

      Lainey just blasted this mess: “I guess rehab for an addiction to painkillers because of an injury is totally not the same as getting sh-tfaced at TIFF every night to the point of belligerence, right? They were smart to spin it this way, to control the story before the Enquirer did it for them. Because now his supporters can support him even more. Poor, poor brute. He must have been suffering so much. Of COURSE he had to self-medicate. Of COURSE he would never, never use anything harder, anything less legal. And don’t be ridiculous, his weight loss had NOTHING to do with cocaine. “

      • Moi says:

        Any mother that would even start something up with a man that she knows does coke is disgusting for starters. A lot of blind items are made up, but if that story is true (no matter who is really was), makes me want to punch something. Who acts like that?

    • QQ says:

      Lainey just blasted this mess: “I guess rehab for an addiction to painkillers because of an injury is totally not the same as getting sh-tfaced at TIFF every night to the point of belligerence, right? They were smart to spin it this way, to control the story before the Enquirer did it for them. Because now his supporters can support him even more. Poor, poor brute. He must have been suffering so much. Of COURSE he had to self-medicate. Of COURSE he would never, never use anything harder, anything less legal. And don’t be ridiculous, his weight loss had NOTHING to do with cocaine”

    • QQ says:

      Lainey just blasted this mess:

      “I guess rehab for an addiction to painkillers because of an injury is totally not the same as getting sh-tfaced at TIFF every night to the point of belligerence, right? They were smart to spin it this way, to control the story before the Enquirer did it for them. Because now his supporters can support him even more. Poor, poor brute. He must have been suffering so much. Of COURSE he had to self-medicate. Of COURSE he would never, never use anything harder, anything less legal. And don’t be ridiculous, his weight loss had NOTHING to do with cocaine”

  6. mln76 says:

    HA!!!!! That was a good one…

  7. carrie says:

    i knew he was a big party boy but not so deeply.
    I guess the cocaine use can explain why he was so thin almost skinny since the last year

    Betty Ford is known as a serious clinic
    i hope the best for him

  8. ShanKat says:

    Sounds like he’s about to come *out* of rehab in the next few days.

    Yoga with Russy…I like it. Downward dong.

  9. Roma says:

    Though I am happy he is getting help…

    I guess this means he did hit it with Lindsay Lohan.

  10. operagirl says:

    This makes me sad. He had been sober for so long.

    Good luck, Gerard!

  11. Pigelot says:

    Thank you! That needed to be said.

  12. Not surpried by this says:

    Funny how the tabloids didn’t know about this. Oh I forgot, they were to busy lying on Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Glad the Mr Butler is getting help.

    • maemay says:

      So true the tabloids are so busy posting Brangelina fanfic and Kardashian krap that they miss all the real stories…like Seal and Heidi marriage problems…and then when they DO get it right its like crying wolf, how can you believe a paper that reports Brange is getting married with triplets.

  13. paola says:

    He is damn hot, but just the thought of him and Lindsay lohan sleeping together.. i mean… Ewwwwwww…

    • TheOriginalKitten says:

      I bet they were bonded by their love for blow and likely, nasty, dirty sex.
      They both look like junk so I can see why they were drawn to each other.

  14. madpoe says:

    Kinda explains to me his near sickly thinness these days. I’m saddened its nose candy but relieved he’s seeking help for it. I’ve got two herniated discs but never found relief in taking pills for pain management. Its like it doesn’t work so I guess these celebs take more and more of it to numb the pain. Im guessing.

  15. TheOriginalKitten says:

    Seriously. Dude has looked like hell for a long time now. Kaiser-I hope you’re not saying that you believe that he became addicted to prescrip drugs because of “pain management”. I mean, come on-it’s Hollywood, prescrip pills are ubiquitous out there and 95% of those popping pills aren’t “managing pain”.
    Anyway, good for him for getting help.

    • the original bellaluna says:

      If he has an addictive personality (which I believe he does), treatment of his injury on the set of that surf movie where he re-injured a previous injury would have been very tricky.

      I’m a chronic pain patient (minus health insurance) and my orthopedist explained it thusly: “Oxycodone (norco, vicodin) is great at treating pain, but there’s a problem: it actually makes you MORE SENSITIVE to pain because it blocks your pain receptors. So you develop MORE pain receptors.”

      I don’t know if that’s true or if he was talking out his ass (and he was, IRL, a HUGE asshole) but that’s what he said.

      • aprayerforthewildatheart says:

        What that Dr. said is true, opiates like vicodin, are just like heroin, come from the same thing. The brain starts pushing more and more “pain” buttons to get the drug, it’s a physical addiction, and just like with heroin you end up taking the meds just to keep the pain from the addiction at bay. I have a friend whose dad isn’t doing so well.

        I hope you’re doing alright, and that you’ve found good ways to manage.

      • OriginalTiffany says:

        Yep, the minute you STOP taking them, your pain level completely drops off. I’ve done it several times. My back is a mess, so I have runs of off and on opiate use. Not hard to stop, either.
        He’s definitely in for the nose candy.
        My opiate usage escalated the entire time I had to take them until I was on a fentanyl patch. Now I’m on advil and much happier except for the long flights and drives. Then misery.

  16. Jen34 says:

    That would explain the weightloss and why he’s been looking so terrible lately. I’m inclined to believe that he has multiple addiction issues. There’s always been something ‘off’ about him.

    I’m most surprised, as others have noted, that this just came out now. I’m not sure he was in rehab for 3 weeks, though. The timeline is either off, or he went directly from Brandi to rehab.

    • Mari says:

      I am in total agreement. I think he borders on addictive personality. My grandfather had one. They become addicted to almost anything imediately. Gambling, drugs, alcohol, women, you name it. It can be conquered, but the first step is, obviously, admitting there’s a problem and seeking help. Good for him. It’s tough to ask for help, much less admit to yourself you have a problem. Thankfully, most of us will never have to deal with this. My heart goes out to him as this will be a lifelong struggle.

    • cr says:

      Do you mean the fling he supposedly had with Brandi? I thought that happened last summer, not anytime recently.

  17. hillbilly in the corner says:

    Glad he’s facing up to his problems and doing something about them before he turns into a male Lindsay Lohan….UGH !
    but as for the sex addiction……..he really needs to see me about that little problem…..I think I have the cure………
    and it might even help him out to..!!!
    LOL

  18. Str8Shooter says:

    Maybe while he’s at it, he can get some rehab for that dung pile on top of his head!

  19. really says:

    spoiled, privileged, hedonistic, sexist, weak, ungrateful, dishonest… unlike 99% of the world, he was living la vida loca. it got out of control, and he will get top notch professional help in a resort setting. no sympathy here.

  20. ladybert62 says:

    He still needs a haircut and a shave.

  21. Cathy says:

    Ewwww, the thought of him even thinking about doing Lindsay Blowsalot grosses me out. But I don’t think it would be true. I think he has more class than that, at least I hope he does.

  22. jc126 says:

    I don’t know this Lindsay Lohan, but maybe that was the “hitting rock bottom” event for Gerard Butler? He woke up later and said OH MY GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE??? It’s like waking up next to a dead body, right?

    I admire him for just going to rehab and addressing his problems before he hurt anyone else.

  23. Stubbylove says:

    Love the Butler – hope he’s improving his health and back in the saddle soon!

  24. garvels says:

    Bummers. Hope Gerry kicks this thing for good. I know he is quite the player but I find him to be quite entertaining and a solid actor.

    • Esmom says:

      Right on. I’m not a fan and haven’t followed his exploits but he was on our local morning news not long ago and was funny, personable and seemed really normal.

  25. Jordan says:

    Good for him for getting help. If he is using cocaine plus he uses his prescription drugs to ‘enhance’ the high, that’s a very dangerous combo. Glad he realized it and it doing something positive to take care of it. Wish more would before its too late.

  26. Chickie Baby says:

    Well, this would explain his ‘absence’ from paparazzi pix during the last month or so. He’s usually spotted in public quite a bit during awards season, and after the Globes this year sort of just disappeared.

    Still adore him—hope he’s doing better.

  27. Jo 'Mama' Besser says:

    Sigh. You could explain away high treason if you wanted to jump its jock. It’s good he’s getting help, though.

    Self-medication has always been a bit of a mystery to me. ‘This very thing has decimated myriad lives, but surely I’m above all of that’? I don’t know so I have to think that it’s just not something I understand, even though I can understand why the lure of ‘pain management’ exists.

  28. the original bellaluna says:

    Well, that explains his drastic weight loss.

    Now get better, love, and return to me. Mama’ll take v-e-r-y good care of you.

  29. the original bellaluna says:

    Just read on ROL that he’s completed rehab and is at home, healthy.

  30. YeahSure says:

    Smells like a PR move. Every article talks about what a man whore Gerard is then Brandi comes right out with it. Suddenly he needs rehab…for his image. Lil too obvious.

  31. xxx says:

    Does any celeb’s pr agent just come out and say the person is a drug addict? Evvvvery pr agency says the client has a prescription medicine problem from a previous injury. Just say the guy has substance abuse situation!!

  32. wtf? says:

    so sad, get better soon gerry

  33. aprayerforthewildatheart says:

    Good for him to go to rehab if he has a problem, at least he’s not using rehab as a PR stunt like some celebs.

    Addiction to pain meds is serious, they should never be taken on a long-term basis. As opiates they cause a certain type of addiction in the brain that is directly linked to pain. The brain learns to activate more and more pain sensors in the body to, in turn, get more of the drug. In the long run the effects of addiction to pain meds are the same as the effects of addiction to heroin.

  34. Beatriz says:

    Well, I’m glad that he took the first step and entered rehab. I hope he get’s better soon, I love Gerard Butler, crappy movies or not.

  35. RdyfrmycloseupmrDvlle says:

    Much like Daniel Craig I just cant understand this guys apparent sex appeal. I think he’s total FUG.
    Having said that I really respect that he’s kept his dirty laundry to himself and has been totally private and low key about his re hab. I wish more stars had his sense of dignity. I respect him for this. Very classy.

  36. Ally says:

    Maybe seeing the movie Shame made Gerard go to rehab for his compulsive trolling for strange.

  37. b anonymous says:

    This man,Gerard Butler eclipses the sun and blots the rest of us out with his incredable beauty.