Bam Margera has opened up on his prolonged battle with addiction, shedding light on the grim side of rehab, the pitfalls of interventions, and the unexpected catalyst that led him on a path to sobriety.
The Famed Jackass star's battles with alcohol and substance abuse have made headlines on multiple occasions over the last decade. Additionally, his stints in rehab facilities have also been widely covered.
Now, in a candid revelation, Margera admitted that despite these numerous attempts, he never managed to complete a rehab program.
The stunt artist's resilience seems to be paying off as he recently announced that he has maintained sobriety for 45 days.
But what changed? Margera provided insight during an appearance on the Preston & Steve Show on 93.3 WMMR, where he remarked: "I bought a one-way ticket to hell and back, and I’ll explain, but I’m phenomenal now. I have the Guinness Book of World Records of longest Florida shuffle – fifteen back-to-back rehabs, usually 90 days of peace but sometimes more."
The term 'Florida shuffle' refers to the controversial practice where certain rehab centers continually readmit patients to claim insurance payouts. Such a model inevitably pushes patient welfare to the background, leading to repeated cycles of admissions without lasting success.
Margera continued: "Luckily, I had phenomenal insurance, and the interventionist knows that if you have insurance, they’ll find every reason to keep you there."
Margera's encounters with interventions, which were often disguised as friendly invitations, left him feeling "sabotaged".
He recalled instances where he was lured into believing he was heading for a nice dinner, only to face an intervention. Such approaches, according to him, were counterproductive. "All that didn’t work because I was already bitter about it," he admitted.
But the star's family and loved ones have frequently spoken out about their concerns about the star, with his own brother saying that Bam was "dying" earlier this year.
Earlier this year, Margera found himself at a crossroads following a public intoxication arrest in Radnor Township in August. The subsequent court order mandated an ankle monitoring bracelet and regular attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
However, it wasn't the legal ramifications that turned the tide for Margera; it was love.
He credits his new relationship with helping him find the strength to stay sober. "But when I was at my wit’s end in LA... And I just happened to meet the most phenomenal girl ever. Her name is Danny Marie... So we connected big time [, and] she gave me an ultimatum – her pusswa or the Vodka. … 45 days now sober," he revealed.
We wish Bam all the best on his recovery journey.
