Denzel Washington Opens Up About Experimenting with Hard Drugs but Avoiding Addiction: “I Never Got Strung Out”

Denzel Washington is approaching his tenth sobriety anniversary and is reflecting on his journey with drugs and alcohol.

The “Gladiator II” star revealed that alcohol had been a recurring presence in his life for years, though its roots stretched back much further. He candidly described his experience in a recent interview with Esquire, revealing that he tried drugs in his lifetime.

“I never got strung out on heroin. Never got strung out on coke. Never got strung out on hard drugs. I shot dope just like they shot dope, but I never got strung out. And I never got strung out on liquor,” Washington stated.

In the beginning, the actor’s relationship with alcohol seemed sophisticated, even aspirational. He reminisced about indulging in high-end wines at tastings, enjoying the best the world had to offer.

“I had this ideal idea of wine tastings and all that—which is what it was at first,” he explained. “And that’s a very subtle thing. I mean, I drank the best. I drank the best. And 15 years into it: Send me two bottles, and make it good stuff, but just two. And I’d drink them both over the course of the day.”

This nuanced relationship with alcohol took on deeper resonance in 2012 when Washington portrayed William “Whip” Whitaker, an alcoholic pilot, in the film “Flight.” The role earned him a Best Actor Oscar nomination, but Washington shared that he refrained from drinking during filming but resumed shortly after wrapping the project.  However, he now believes his prior habits may have left lasting “damage” to his body. Thankfully, he has put that life behind him and is looking toward the future.

Despite speculation about retirement, Washington has clarified that he isn’t stepping away from the industry anytime soon. Speaking with Jimmy Kimmel, he shared plans to transition more into directing while continuing to take on a full slate of acting roles.