TORONTO — “I am an alcoholic and a drug addict.”
These are the words of actor Shawn Pyfrom, who opened up about his struggles with substance abuse following the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman of a suspected overdose.
The 27-year-old, who starred as Andrew Van De Kamp on Desperate Housewives, posted an open letter online “against the advice of others.”
Pyfrom said he celebrated five months of sobriety on Sunday. “I’m relatively new to being sober, considering the scope of time that I’ve been an addict,” he wrote. “But within that scope, this is also the longest I’ve been sober; since I began using.”
The actor said he decided to go public to “encourage someone to hold on to their life… to keep from ever using, or to find the strength to stop.”
Pyfrom admitted he “lived for drugs” for several years.
“I lived for other things as well. But drugs dictated the other things I lived for. I thought more about using, than I thought about any other ‘pleasures,’ he wrote. “I put myself in places I never would have ended up, otherwise, for the sake of getting high.”
He admitted to black-outs and making poor decisions.
Since the end of Desperate Housewives in 2012, Pyfrom has done guest spots on Rizzoli & Isles and in the TV movie Killing Lincoln.
“I am an addict. And I’ve never been more proud, saying it. Because when I think about where I’ve been, and where I am now… I am proud of the man who has addressed and admitted to himself, what was once a clouded denial.”
Pyfrom said he hopes his revelation will give strength to others coping with addiction.
“I hope it gives you strength to consider the potential it has to take everything, that is dear, from you. You may be one of the lucky ones that leaves unscathed from it all. With all sincerity; good for you,” he wrote. “But I leave it to you to decide if it’s worth risking; Finding yourself on the unfortunate end of things. Just know that either way, I’m pulling for you.”
On social media, reaction has been largely supportive, with fans and fellow celebrities calling Pyfrom’s message “brave” and “inspiring.”
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