Drew Barrymore Holds Her Teenage Rehab Experience ‘Sacrosanct’ Even Though 'It Was Hard As Hell'

Drew Barrymore is reflecting on the silver lining from her time in rehab. 

The actress recently opened up about the experience, discussing how difficult it was, yet how extremely helpful it was because it shaped her into who she is today. 

Barrymore, who encountered fame at just seven years old, opened up about being institutionalized by her mother when she was 14. 

Barrymore had a candid conversation with Mae Martin during the former’s show on Friday, and the actress spoke about being in rehab at a young age. 

The two spoke about “Wayward,” a Netflix show loosely based on Martin’s experiences with a troubled childhood. Drawing from that, Barrymore then spoke about her own experience, saying, “I also was someone who got taken away and put in a place for two years.” 

As reported by PEOPLE Magazine, she spoke about how the show explored the challenges teens often face in the industry, noting that she “had a lot of lightness in my experience in the institution,” before adding: 

“I know that sounds wild, but it was like encouragement to say your truth, to be brave, to find humor and heroism in your journey. And it's the best thing that ever happened to me, honestly. And I hold a lot of that sacrosanct. But it wasn't easy. It was hard as hell.”

Barrymore originally revealed that she spent time in rehab in 2015. She shared that she was committed to a facility for drug and alcohol addiction, and she spent 18 months there. During that period, she admitted to feeling “really” alone and being “very very angry.”

Barrymore has always been open about her difficulties with drug and alcohol addiction at a young age. In 2024, The Blast reported that the 50-year-old actress got candid about being institutionalized by her mom when she was a child star. 

Speaking to Howard Stern, Barrymore said, “I was in a place for a year and a half called Van Nuys Psychiatric, and you couldn't mess around in there.”

She revealed that the facility was so strict that if anyone broke the rules, they would be either “thrown in a padded room” or tied up and put in stretcher restraints. 

In addition to her drug problems, Barrymore also opened up about her relationship with her parents. She reflected on the complexities of growing up with parents who separated in 1984. 

The “Charlie’s Angels” star shared that her father had left her mother to raise her alone, noting that he was “so cool that he was lethally deadly cool."

She also added that her father was “dangerous” and was “on a lot of drugs.” As such, her mother knew she had to get away from that situation. 

Although Barrymore’s father was absent for most of her childhood, Steven Spielberg stepped into a father role for her and “changed” her life. 

Barrymore’s troubles didn’t just involve problems with drugs and separated parents but also with the law. 

Early this year, the talk show host revealed that she had once been stopped for public urination. She recalled being caught in the act and peeking out from the bushes while Luke Wilson, her ex-lover, was there, per The Blast.

The actress laughed it off, saying that she was let go with a warning and her night with Wilson wasn’t ruined by the encounter with law enforcement. 

Although Barrymore was in a relationship with Wilson, they never got married.

The actress got married to Tom Green, her second husband, in 2001, but the two went their separate ways in 2002.  22 years later, Green found love again and got engaged to his new lover, Amanda.

As reported by The Blast, he announced the news in an Instagram post that read, “Big news! Amanda and I are engaged! I am the luckiest guy in the world. I love you Amanda. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from us to all of you!”

Green shared the news with a carousel of photos showing him and his lover looking cozy against a wintery backdrop. The news was met with several congratulatory messages from friends and well-wishers.