Aaron Sorkin Gets Real Descriptive About His Cocaine Addiction

By PopEater Staff Posted Sep 22nd 2010 06:45PM

In the wake of Lindsay Lohan's much-publicized problems with cocaine, another Hollywood heavyweight is coming clean about his past struggle with the drug. Aaron Sorkin, creator-writer of 'West Wing' among other huge TV and movie hits, spoke with W Magazine about his battle with drug addiction, his trips to rehab and the inevitable relapses.

On his addiction in the 1990s, Sorkin explains he never really got over it and it's still a constant challenge.

"My life didn't fall apart before I got into rehab," Sorkin says in the interview. "I didn't lose my job or run over a kid or injure anyone when I was high. But the hardest thing I do every day is not take cocaine. You don't get cured of addiction -- you're just in remission."

After dealing with rehab, Sorkin had a relapse incident in 2001 where he started considering himself a criminal.

"Again it was a matter of opportunity: Julia [his wife at the time] was away, and I had a window where I could fly to Vegas on a Friday, get high all night and then return to L.A. the next day," Sorkin explains. "I'd do this three times a year, and it was amazing I never got caught. I was the worst criminal."

Then things got worse when he ran into some trouble at the Burbank, CA airport.

"I had a four-dollar pipe, and the bowl was made of metal," Sorkin says. "It showed up on the monitor at Burbank airport and they asked to search my bag. I fainted. When I came to, I was in handcuffs. I was lucky -- there are guys serving time in prison for doing less than I did."

After his arrest, he and his wife separated amicably. "My daughter, Roxy, was only a few months old," he said. "She's now nine. I'm dreading the moment she goes online and reads about my arrest. But at least I'll have credibility with her when it comes to drugs. I won't be some old guy who doesn't know how to have fun."

Tags: aaron sorkin, the social network, w magazine

Comments

(5)

Wednesday 22 September

By Apostate

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A Sorkin was once "A-Snortin",huh? I'll try to feign shock now...Nope,can't do it.

By riojoanz

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He sounds like a loser who doesn't know how to have fun without doing drugs that numb your mind. What a poor message to send to your daughter: detach from reality--that is called having fun. Sad. There's nothing wrong with saying your daddy was a weak man who couldn't handle himself. Don't do what I did....

Thursday 23 September

By midnitecowboi03

It takes much more strength for the man to admit his Achille's heel as he's doing than to attempt to cover them up. In fact, he's setting a great example for his daughter. Nowhere did he say he was proud of his past. It's easy for people who don't have a particular problem to judge those that do, while ignoring their own rationalized "soft" addictions which maybe legal, but can still kill them.

By jojo

These people, make the choice to take drugs, nobody makes them take drugs. Their choice, their result.

By marye

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he was hurting no one besides himself and his family..the man is brillant..given all of us quality tv..let him make peace with his own demons...let's deal with some of the real criminals out there

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