In a recent interview, Bow Wow revealed that he was hospitalized due to his drug addiction, and explained why he is determined to 'get right.'
The 36-year-old rapper joined The Art of Dialogue podcast to discuss his recent addition to Lean, a drink made from codeine cough syrup and soda that's popular among many musicians. The drink has been a part of his life for almost two decades since he started drinking it in 2007. Despite its mental effects, he quickly found himself drinking the drink frequently.
“I was drinking that s--- like crazy. If you go back and watch The Road to Platinum series on BET, you'll see so many white styrofoam cups. I was losing my f---ing mind. That lean s--- had me f---ed up. I was just always irritated,” he shared on the podcast.
In the course of the interview, he explained that he found himself drinking Lean regularly. He then had a scare in 2018, when he collapsed off-stage and was quickly rushed to the hospital while on tour.
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"I'm sitting in the hospital not knowing what the f--- going on, and when I get back home and the s--- gets worse. I'm throwing up, I'm shivering in the bed, I'm sweating, I'm going through it... I didn't know I was having withdrawals. That's how much lean I was consuming."
As soon as the physical pain interfered, the ‘Like You’ rapper knew it was time for a change.
“My stomach was so f---ed up. It felt like someone just had a knife, I never felt this type of pain ever in my life,” he said. “My body needed it but my mind, I don’t have an addictive personality. I was consuming a lot but I didn’t know that my body needed it…That was the worst s--- I ever went through in my life. No joke,” he continued.
Bow Wow admits to only using tequila and weed, but many celebrities are sharing their journey to sobriety and quitting alcohol. Ari Lennox has been vocal during her sobriety journey, sharing memorable milestones. She shared a lengthy Instagram post on her first sober anniversary in December of 2023, saying she was proud of the progress she had made.
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“I just knew it would be impossible to be sober if I was still flying, but wow look at me. I did that!” the singer shared in an Instagram post.
Angela 'Blac Chyna' White and Lil Uzi Vert have also been vocal about their decisions to become sober.
Additionally, many Black Americans, especially Gen-Zers, are embarking on this journey as well. Studies have shown that many Gen-Zers are choosing not to consume alcohol because of a focus on mental health and awareness. While so many have found ways to quit cold turkey, initiatives like Dry January, a month-long challenge to be sober the entire month, have allowed people to take the first step to a life free from alcohol. A recent study showed that roughly 70% of Black Americans are ‘somewhat’ to ‘very likely’ to participate in Dry January in 2024.”
The movement towards embracing sobriety continues to gain momentum. If you are interested in joining but missed Dry January, no worries! Many are choosing to extend their Dry January initiatives. With the widespread availability of mocktails in restaurants, the transition to a sober lifestyle can become a bit easier. Whether it's January or any other month, the decision to let go of alcohol can be easier with resources and others on the same journey as you. However, if you are struggling with alcohol addiction and want to decide to become sober, do not hesitate to reach out to get help.
As Bow Wow stated, stepping away from an addiction can help you ‘be the best you.’
“Ima start being more vocal. We gotta save the youth from going out early. Parents watch your kids. Explain to them. We want yall to live man. I almost died f---ing with syrup,” the rapper shared.
