‘Friends’ star Perry speaks out about addiction battle

Friends star Matthew Perry has spoken about overcoming his drug and alcohol addiction as he was reunited with his former co-star Lisa Kudrow to receive an award for his work with rehabilitation centres.

Perry battled addiction during the sitcom’s successful run and his contribution to a charity helping young people to overcome similar issues was celebrated at a Beverly Hills gala.

He was presented the Phoenix Rising Award by rehabilitation organisation Phoenix House, which helps 18,000 people in 10 US states each year.

On the red carpet at the Montage Hotel in Los Angeles, Perry was described as a hero to young people, but he said: “It’s very gratifying but I’m not a hero, I’m just a guy who got sober and I’m passing along the message the best I can and I think that maybe because I was on a TV show more people listen.”

In an interview with People in 2013 he admitted that, during his time on Friends, he abused alcohol routinely and became addicted to medication a doctor prescribed for him after a jet ski accident in 1997.

The actor recalled the doctor saying: ‘Here, take this’, adding: “I did and I felt better than I ever felt in my entire life. I had a big problem with pills and alcohol, and I couldn’t stop.”

Perry, 45, recently visited one of Phoenix House’s treatment centres: “It’s an amazing place that helps teens with drug and alcohol abuse and I went and visited their place about six weeks ago and met some of the kids and it was really wonderful.”

Perry collected his award from his former Friends co-star Kudrow, who shot to fame as Phoebe Buffay in the long-running series.