Alcohol and drug abuse impacts between 15 and 20 percent of the population, and country stars are no exception. A number of country stars are among the statistics who’ve overdosed on drugs or alcohol — and sadly, most did not survive.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in 2022, 17.3 percent (48.7 million) of Americans who were 12 or older had suffered a substance use disorder in the previous year. That included 29.5 million who had an alcohol use disorder, 27.2 million who struggled with a drug use disorder and 8 million people who had both.
Some of country music’s brightest and most impactful stars have struggled with addiction, and those stories are well documented. Sadly, quite a few of their addiction battles ended in overdoses that took their lives, and many of them died shockingly young as a result.
Read on to see which country stars have overdosed on drugs and alcohol.
If you or a loved one is facing mental health and/or substance abuse issues, you are not alone. Call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-622-HELP (4357). According to the group’s website, “SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.”
Country Stars Who’ve Overdosed on Drugs + Alcohol
Alcohol and drug abuse impacts between15 and 20 percent of the population, and country stars are no exception. A number of country stars are among the statistics who’ve overdosed on drugs or alcohol — and sadly, most did not survive.
Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker
Country Stars Who Battled Addiction
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
18 Country Artists Who Are Sober
Although country music is known for its raucous drinking songs, several artists have sworn off the stuff completely. Be it a lifestyle change or a life-saving decision, each one of these artists can say that that their lives have changed for the better since giving up the bottle. They are sober and proud.
R.I.P.: 40 Country Singers and Songwriters Who Died Too Soon
These country singers had so much more to give. See 40 country singers who died much too soon: Keith Whitley, Mindy McCready, Troy Gentry and more.
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
Sterling Whitaker is a Senior Writer and Senior Editor for Taste of Country. He focuses on celebrity real estate, as well as coverage of Yellowstone and related shows like 1883 and 1923. He’s interviewed cast members including Cole Hauser, Kelly Reilly, Sam Elliott and Harrison Ford, and Whitaker is also known for his in-depth interviews with country legends including Don Henley, Rodney Crowell, Trace Adkins, Ronnie Milsap, Ricky Skaggs and more.