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Jesse Metcalfe is speaking candidly about his experience with addiction, reflecting on how far he has come nearly 20 years after first checking into rehab.
During a March 17 episode of the "Not Skinny But Not Fat" podcast, the actor shared that his struggles with drugs and alcohol were closely tied to the pressures that came with being in the public eye. "I've had my struggles with drugs and alcohol," he said. "Definitely a lot of pressure, a lot of scrutiny just kind of wanted to escape all of that."
He first entered a treatment facility in 2007 after realizing he needed help, a decision that marked a major turning point in his life. Since then, he says his understanding of addiction has changed. Rather than being driven purely by emotions, he explained that it can become something more automatic over time. "At a certain point it becomes not about the emotional underpinning of addiction," he said. "It's just addiction. You know? Like if alcohol is around or if drugs are around, it pulls you."
Metcalfe also acknowledged that addiction has been present in his family, which made him more aware of how it might affect him. "I kinda was hopeful that it would skip a generation," he said, noting that "it runs in my family, both my grandfathers were raging alcoholics. My father has quite a bit of sobriety."
While he has made progress, he admitted that his journey hasn't been perfect. There have been moments where he fell back into old patterns, something he openly addressed. "I haven't stayed sober the whole time, I can tell you that," he said, adding that he "definitely slipped up" at certain points. Even so, he says he is currently in a much better place. "But I am now and I'm in a great place now and I think that's what matters most."
He also spoke about how difficult those setbacks can feel, especially after trying to stay on track for a long time. For him, those moments often come with regret and a reminder that they are not worth it in the end.
Now, he seems focused on maintaining his progress and continuing to move forward, while being honest about both the highs and lows that have shaped his journey.
