Ben Affleck leaves rehab: ‘I am fighting for myself and my family’

Ben Affleck opened up on social media to share that he recently completed a 40-day stay in rehab for alcoholism. The Academy Award-winner posted about his time in rehab on Instagram, thanking his friends, family and fans for their continual support.

“This week I completed a 40 day stay at a treatment center for alcohol addiction and remain in outpatient care,” the actor wrote. “The support I have received from my family, colleagues and fans means more to me than I can say. It’s given me the strength and support to speak about my illness with others.”

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Affleck has undergone rehab for alcoholism on several other occasions. He completed a rehab program back in 2001, and in 2017 he shared with fans on Facebook that he had been to rehab for a second time.

In his Instagram post last week, the actor pointed out that addiction is never “cured”;  instead sobriety is a “commitment” and the disease is something he’s going to continue to battle.

“Battling any addiction is a lifelong and difficult struggle,” he wrote. “Because of that, one is never really in or out of treatment. It is full-time commitment.”

And there’s data to back up what Affleck is saying. According to an eight-year study surveying 1,200 addicts, only about one-third of people who sustain from alcohol for less than a year will remain abstinent. For those who make it to a year, less than half will relapse.

The best indicator that a struggling alcoholic will remain sober is time. According to the study, if you make it to five years of sobriety, the chance of relapsing is less than 15 percent.

Unfortunately, even then, there are stars such as Demi Lovato, who broke her sobriety after more than six years.

Support System

Affleck pointed to his work and his family as major sources of support throughout his continued journey.

In June he posted about his work on the film “Triple Frontier” on Instagram.

“It still hits me how fortunate I am to get to do this, and it never gets old,” he wrote. “So grateful for every opportunity I get, the people I get to work with, and witnessing beauty in all sorts of surprising places.”

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On Father’s Day, he mentioned how “special” the day was thanks to his three children, who he shares with soon-to-be-ex-wife Jennifer Garner:

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According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, more than 10 percent of children in the United States live with a parent who is struggling with alcohol problems, according to a 2012 study.

Garner, who was spotted driving Affleck to a treatment facility in August has been supportive to the actor throughout the years, especially in her co-parenting efforts.

Affleck shared his gratitude for Garner as a partner in parenting shortly after his rehabilitation in 2017 on Facebook, writing, “I’m lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as I’ve done the work I set out to do.”

Garner and Affleck are currently going through a divorce. According to E! News, she recently filed a request to have the divorce proceedings sped up, as she and Affleck first filed for divorce over a year ago.

Admitting to a problem with addiction, as Affleck has done, is an important step in recovery, according to many recovery models. So, now that he’s put it out in the open, we’re wishing all the best to Affleck and his family throughout his road to recovery.