35 Best Songs About Struggling with Addiction & Substance Abuse

As a recovering addict, the singer is very open and honest about her drink and drug addictions, with the chorus saying how she is ‘not sober anymore’. Arguably one of the most iconic addiction songs of all time, ‘Rehab’, is about the singer’s relationship with alcohol. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.

Breaking the Habit by Linkin Park

• If there’s anything to learn from this song, it’s not that drugs are a way out.
• Music allows us to relate to others and to truly feel like we aren’t alone.
• Despite the controversial subject matter, “Cold Turkey” quickly became a fan favorite and has remained a staple of Lennon’s solo catalog.
• People often turn to drugs as an escape from things they don’t like, but that escape quickly becomes a different type of prison.

If you’re suffering from addiction or know someone who is, you can follow along to this guided meditation for addiction and cravings. The song is about a person who is reflecting on their life and all of the choices they have made. They are wondering if they made the right choices and if they could have done things differently.

Powerful Songs About Addiction and Recovery

• Meanwhile, a blister in the sun is extraordinarily painful, but even that pain and the departure of a loved one may not be enough to get over addiction.
• Its lasting impact on both music and culture is a testament to Lennon’s unmatched talent and his willingness to explore difficult topics through his art.
• The theme of the song revolves around the importance of taking life one day at a time, and not getting caught up in the past or future.
• Songs about alcohol addiction like Sia’s Chandelier are all about the turmoil you feel that causes you to drink more.
• A big bout of December-based boozing has left you feeling like a dried out prune, and you’re eyeing up sobriety like it’s the solution to all your many, many problems.

The song is about a break-up and how the person is trying to recover from it. They are trying to find themselves again and figure out what they want in life. The song is about being happy and in love and feeling like you’re walking on sunshine. The song is about how love comes down and washes away all our fears and doubts.

Cry Out to Jesus by Third Day

“Sober” by Pink is another excellent track to add to your list of recovery songs. Pink wrote this song after realizing she wanted to feel as good sober as she did while drinking and using drugs. That said, songs about addiction look at it from every angle, from the harm it causes to relationships to the reasons people start the path towards drugs in the first place. If you take anything away from this list, it should be that you’re not alone, no matter how bad anyone’s addiction may seem. Moreover, by sharing their own experiences, these artists can offer hope and inspiration to others who may be struggling with addiction or in need of support. Finally, the importance of vulnerability and honesty in addiction and recovery songwriting cannot be overstated.

• The song is about a person who is addicted to drugs and is trying to break the habit.
• Demi Lovato is wonderfully vocal about her fight against addiction and has written several songs about it.
• Recovery is fundamentally optimistic, discussing Arthur’s efforts to create his recovery and move past his addiction.
• It is a reminder of the deceptive nature of addictive substances, and how they can ruin your life.
• This song deals with his struggle with cocaine addiction and, to a lesser extent, some other drugs.

Recovery Songs To Listen To

This power ballad, released in 1993, describes the desperation of a life of personal pain, drugs, and sin. ‘I don’t ever wanna feel like I did that day, take me to the place I love, take me all the way’, a poignant reflection by the singer on his experience of drugs. Lead singer, Anthony Kiedis talks about drug addictions he has been facing for a large part of his life. In this 2001 powerful song, the singer is speaking to an old love who he hurt during tough times, with his addictions and is apologizing.

No matter what you’re going through, sometimes one song is all it takes to boost your spirits and get you back on track. Recovery is fundamentally optimistic, discussing Arthur’s efforts to create his recovery and move past his addiction. He also ties music into things, acknowledging that songwriting is one of the things helping him and showing yet again that having a goal to strive towards is valuable for overcoming addiction. One of the newer entries on this list, Rehab focuses on a desire to avoid help and start over sober, while acknowledging that it may not last. However, in a less-common lyrical focus, Rehab also considers the question of what happens when both people in a relationship are addicted.

They feel that this person completes them and they would be lost without them. The song is about a break-up and how the person who is now single is better off without their ex. The song talks about how the person is now free and how they don’t need their ex to be happy. The song is about a man who is addicted to love and is desperate for the attention of a woman. He is willing to do anything to get her attention, even if it means making a fool of himself.

The song was released in 2017 and became a major success, reaching the top 10 in several countries including the United States, Canada and the UK. I Took A Pill In Ibiza” by Mike Posner is a melancholic electronic dance song released in 2015. The song talks about Posner’s personal experiences as a struggling artist, his rise to fame, and his subsequent fall into depression. Despite not being released as a single, “How Could You Leave Us” has become one of NF’s most popular songs, with over 200 million views on YouTube. “Fallen” is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, released as the lead single from her fifth studio album “Afterglow” in 2003.

• ‘Otherside’ is a story by Macklemore (Ben Haggeryty’s) personal life, sharing his experiences with addiction and drug abuse.
• Arguably one of the most iconic addiction songs of all time, ‘Rehab’, is about the singer’s relationship with alcohol.
• This list of songs about addiction and recovery can speak to everyone too, regardless of whether we have lived those experiences ourselves.
• The song was released in 2012 as the lead single from Gossip’s fifth studio album “A Joyful Noise” and received critical acclaim for its infectious energy and empowering message.
• Addiction and recovery-themed songs go a step further by offering a message of hope and inspiration to those in need.
• The song has been a big success for Colicchie, with over 40 million views on YouTube and numerous positive reviews from fans and critics.

He is trying to find comfort in alcohol, but it only makes him feel worse. He is trying to find peace in the music that they used to share, but it only reminds him of her. The song is about a fictional character named Chris Dolmeth, who is a drug addict. Hopsin portrays Chris as a person who is struggling to get his life together and is addicted to drugs. The song talks about how Chris is always high and how he needs to get his life together.

The song has been a big success for Colicchie, with over 40 million views on YouTube and numerous positive reviews from fans and critics. “Chandelier” has since become one of Sia’s signature songs and a modern classic of the pop genre, cementing her status as songs about addiction rap one of the most innovative and compelling artists of her time. “Can’t Feel My Face” is a popular song by Canadian singer The Weeknd released in 2015. The song has a unique blend of funky pop and soulful R&B sound, which makes it stand out in the music scene.