Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown: ‘Cocaine became my escape’
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Queer Eye star Karamo Brown has opened up about his past cocaine addiction, saying the drug became his “escape.”
Brown told People that he was a frequent cocaine user at one stage in his life – and that he relied on it so heavily that he used it in the morning and evening some days.
“I was in the car one New Year’s Eve with my mother and she was in the front seat, and she knew I was using.”
– Queer Eye star Karamo Brown
“There was a point where I had my ATM set for fast cash for the amount for an eighth of cocaine and I would give my card to the strange dealer, who I didn’t even know his last name, so he could go to the ATM for me,” Brown said.
“He could have robbed me blind,” he continued. “That was a low point where I was like, ‘How can you embarrass yourself?’”
Karamo Brown: ‘I had to forgive myself’
The Queer Eye star highlighted one particularly difficult incident during the time he used cocaine.
“I was in the car one New Year’s Eve with my mother and she was in the front seat, and she knew I was using. I was doing cocaine while she was in front seat, and the look on her face of hurt, of pain, I was like, ‘Ugh, I put my family through that.’
“I had to forgive myself, because going through that allows me to talk to people who have addictions.”
– Queer Eye star Karamo Brown
“But I had to forgive myself, because going through that allows me to talk to people who have addictions and say, ‘I know what you’re going through.’
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“It allows me to talk to family members who are dealing with someone who has addiction, whether it’s drugs, alcohol, food, exercise, porn, there are so many different addictions.”
Karamo Brown’s new memoir delves into his history of suicidal thoughts and drug addiction
Brown’s new memoir, which was released in the US this month and is slated for a UK release in April, delves into his drug addiction and suicidal thoughts in more depth.
Last August, Brown took to Twitter to speak openly about his suicide attempt in 2006.
“Today in 2006 I was sitting on my couch alone and attempted to commit suicide. In my mind life was over for me.
“I want you to know that things do get better. If you get help and you do the work daily, your life can change. I’m living proof of that.”
– Queer Eye star Karamo Brown
“But I got mental health support & worked each day to believe again. And here I am happy & healthy. I made it and If you’re going through something you can make it too!” he said.
The Queer Eye star further elaborated by saying that he was in “a very dark place” at the time and felt that life “couldn’t get any better.”
“I want you to know that things do get better. If you get help and you do the work daily, your life can change. I’m living proof of that.”
He encouraged his fans to reach out to their friends and family, saying: “You could be their support.”
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Samaritans in the UK on 116 123.
