British DJ Calvin Harris has been sober since 2014, after a trip to the emergency room where his heart had to be restarted. “I stopped drinking because it actually was making me ill,” he said. “It was affecting my brain in the worst way.”[1]
He blames his health scare on his former drinking and poor diet; even though he was diagnosed with an arrythmia, he hasn’t had any issues with his heart since.
In Harris’ world of fame and constant shows, alcohol flows freely. “It’s hard doing what I do because you’re surrounded by JD (Jack Daniels),” he said. “Everywhere you go there’s a bottle of Jack Daniels. If you turn up for a DJ set there are two; you turn up for a band gig and there are six. Where does it all go? Well, someone’s got to drink it.”[2]
Despite the availability of alcohol at venues, drinking wasn’t helping Harris’ performance. According to him, it was affecting his work, making it sloppy and incoherent. Being sober, he can be aware of what he’s doing, more on top of his game—and remember it all later.
“My live shows are a million times better now,” he said. “If you drink, you can’t even remember if it’s a good show or not — and that’s probably for the best, because it would have been rubbish because I’d have been drunk and not making any sense.”[3]
If you are struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder, there is help and hope. TruHealing Centers offers high-quality treatment for addiction and mental health disorders in facilities across the country. Our staff—many of whom are in recovery themselves—will help you find peace without drugs or alcohol. Call an admissions specialist at 410-593-0005.
[1] https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/g11644970/celebrities-who-dont-drink-alcohol/
[2] http://www.msn.com/en-us/music/celebrity/calvin-harris-reveals-he-had-to-have-his-heart-restarted-in-2014/ar-BB14mIs8?getstaticpage=true&automatedTracking=staticview
[3] https://www.insider.com/celebrities-sober-2018-4#calvin-harris-stopped-drinking-when-he-was-24-5