Pete Davidson Admits Drug Addiction Nearly Destroyed His Life: 'I Didn't Feel High Anymore'

Comedian Pete Davidson has opened up about his bitter experience with drug addiction that nearly took his life. In an interview with Variety, the former Saturday Night Live star recounted that the peak of the chaos came when he processed liquid ketamine into a consumable form, mixing it with LSD, mushrooms, and pills every day. "I didn't feel high anymore. I actually felt high when I wasn't taking anything. That's when I realized this was a big problem," he said.

That realization did not immediately make him stop. Davidson admitted he only truly woke up after his mother, Amy, shared her greatest fear: waking up one day and seeing her son's name in the news for something bad. "I got to a point where I couldn't do that to her anymore," said the 30-year-old. He then decided to leave the series Bupkis and enter rehab.

Rehab at age 30 became the lowest point of his life. "The career wasn't working, I felt unlucky. I couldn't take it anymore," he recalled. But he stressed that recovery cannot be done for someone else or for the sake of a job. "You have to really want it. When it's done, it's done."

"I don't mess with drugs anymore. It's been two or three years free from the hard stuff, and about a year or more from marijuana." — Pete Davidson

Interestingly, the substance that was hardest to let go of was marijuana. Davidson admitted it was tough to quit smoking marijuana, but the presence of his daughter, Scottie, who was born last year, became a powerful shield. "It's weird, the hardest thing to stop was marijuana. Now it's easy because I have a kid. Every time the urge comes, I look at my phone background, a photo of my child, and immediately think, 'Oh, no'."

Davidson's story is not just celebrity drama. In Indonesia, data from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) shows a significant increase in narcotics abuse among the productive age group, with ketamine and new classes of psychotropics becoming more common in major cities. The mixed consumption pattern Davidson engaged in—combining stimulants, hallucinogens, and depressants—is a form of polysubstance use that increases the risk of organ damage and mental disorders. Unfortunately, access to adequate rehabilitation services is still hampered by stigma and cost.

Davidson's story also highlights the importance of family support in the recovery process. The emotional intervention from his mother became the main trigger for change, in line with findings from a number of studies that place family as the strongest protective factor for addicts who want to recover. Without that support, the intention to quit often lasts only briefly.

Going forward, the public will be watching to see whether Davidson truly stays consistent in maintaining his sobriety amid the pressures of an entertainment industry that not infrequently normalizes substance use. He also has the potential to become a new voice for mental health and anti-drug campaigns, especially among the young generation that idolizes him. But, as he himself admits, recovery is a lifelong journey—not a short-term project. Will his story inspire, or will it become another dark note in the long list of celebrities who have fallen? Time will tell, but he has already taken his first step.