Hunter Biden Details Crack Use, Alcohol Addiction in Rare Interview
Hunter Biden isn't hiding from his mistakes.
Six months after former President Joe Biden pardoned his son's convictions on federal tax evasion and firearm charges, the 55-year-old shared rare insight into his previous struggles with alcoholism and drug addiction.
'I don't know anybody who hasn't been affected by drugs and alcohol in a really significant way,' Hunter told Channel 5 creator Andrew Callaghan in a sit-down interview released July 21. 'While it's so universal, it's something we rarely talk about.'
And Hunter—dad to Naomi Biden, 31, Finnegan Biden, 23, Maisy Biden, 22, Navy Roberts, 6, and Beau Biden Jr., 5—admitted that his struggle with alcohol was just as difficult as his crack addiction.
'I was drinking so much alcohol, almost a handle of vodka a day' Hunter added. 'And alcohol is the most destructive drug not just to your body, but it puts you in more danger than any other drug I've ever experienced. And then you add on top of that the amount of crack I was using at the time, and crack cocaine in terms of your physical health is not as dangerous as the situation you put yourself in to be able to obtain it.'
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While Hunter noted he's been sober since 2019, he shared he is still in the recovery process, adding, 'I'm still appropriately paying the price for some, or trying to make amends for stuff that are personal that I still believe I need to make amends for.'
He also shared that all of his personal drug issues being aired out nationally in the last few years has helped him stay clean for good.
'You get clean and sober and what ends up happening is you hold onto these secrets,' Hunter—who opened up about his addiction struggles in his 2021 memoir Beautiful Things—explained. 'The guilt kind of boils up and the only place you can talk about it is in a room full of virtual strangers, which is really helpful, but it doesn't relieve you from that awful feeling that 'I'm about to be found out.' Then you get triggered, and your brain tells you the only thing you know how to do to save yourself and the fastest way to save yourself is a drink or a drug. So you get caught in this loop.'
Indeed, Hunter noted his public controversies somewhat saved him from that cycle.
'The favor that they did for me is that I don't have any more secrets,' he added. 'Now, not everything they say about me is true, but the things that people would be very embarrassed about, I've been very open about.'
And while a lot of his embarrassing moments are out in the open, he is more than happy to detail his path to sobriety, adding, 'I am incredibly proud of that.'
For a deeper look into the Biden family, keep reading…
First Lady Jill BidenSon Beau BidenBeau's Widow Hallie BidenGranddaughter Natalie BidenGrandson Robert Hunter Biden IISon Hunter BidenHunter's Ex-Wife Kathleen BuhleGranddaughter Naomi BidenGranddaughter Finnegan BidenGranddaughter Maisy BidenHunter Biden's Wife Melissa CohenGrandson Beau BidenGranddaughter Navy RobertsAshley BidenSon-in-Law Howard KreinSister Valerie BidenA Moment to Remember for the Whole Family
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