Elizabeth Vargas sits down with actor Matthew Perry for an emotional conversation recorded during his book tour for his bestselling book, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.” Matthew shares an incredibly honest, inside look at his decades-long struggle with an alcohol and substance use disorder. Despite his wildly successful career, things were not as perfect for Matthew as they appeared: he has been to 14 treatment centers, 65 detox centers, has spent over $9 million on his recovery and admitted that at one point he had a 2% chance of living. 

Join Matthew and Elizabeth for the season three finale of “Heart of the Matter,” as they discuss his addiction journey, how his “Friends” co-stars supported him during his darkest days and what advice he’d give to those with addiction. 

Related reading: After you listen, explore these resources from Partnership to End Addiction to learn more about the topics and themes discussed in this episode:  

Frequent Questions & Common Misconceptions About Underage Drinking
https://drugfree.org/article/frequent-questions-common-misconceptions-about-underage-drinking/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast_season3

When Your Child Sees Substance Use as an Answer, Not a Problem
https://drugfree.org/article/substance-use-as-an-answer-not-a-problem/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast_season3

Suggesting Treatment to a Loved One
https://drugfree.org/article/suggesting-treatment/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast_season3

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About Partnership to End Addiction:
Partnership to End Addiction is a national nonprofit providing personalized support and resources for families impacted by addiction. With decades of experience in direct services, communications and coalition-building, we mobilize families, policymakers, researchers and health care professionals to more effectively address addiction systemically on a national scale. For more information, visit drugfree.org.

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Actor and author Matthew Perry: On his addiction journey | Partnership to End Addiction