Addiction, Recovery, and Multiple Sclerosis

By: Lakeview Health Staff
Published: July 2, 2012

Jack Osbourne, son of Ozzy Osbourne, has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a crippling illness, at the age of 26. This terrible news comes only weeks after his fiancée gave birth to their daughter, Pearl Clementine. Jack Osbourne was born into a rock n’ roll family in which his father has been at the center of many controversies, including ones involving addiction issues. Jack spoke publicly of his addiction to prescription drugs during an MTV interview while his drugs of choice were OxyContin, Vicodin, Valium, Xanax, Dilaudid, Lorcet, Lortab and Percocet. Jack conveyed that he was trying to escape reality and began abusing drugs at the age of 13. Unfortunately, there is a family component to the disease of addiction that Ozzy’s two youngest children did not escape. However, Jack’s recovery and openness about his past struggles as well as his ability to find sobriety are inspirational. Now, as he enters another chapter in life with his fiancé and baby, he finds yet another hurdle. What do you do when your next disease is not something that you have contributed to? Jack’s family and friends are all supportive of him in his sobriety and now in his fight to remain healthy while struggling with multiple sclerosis. His parents are quoted in articles stating that Jack is handling the news much better than them. Drug and alcohol treatment has led to Jack Osbourne’s strength in sobriety. Staying healthy physically and emotionally is essential to slowing down the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Learning how to live sober is part of the education at Lakeview Health’s substance use disorder treatment program.