In this post, we listed some of the songs addiction gave rise to. Check them out and see how they can give inspiration – or a strong reminder – during your journey to recovery.
25 Songs About Alcohol Abuse And Drug Addiction
From songs about drinking problems to beating drug addiction, there are many tunes that encapsulate the reality of substance abuse. Here are a few that you can add to your playlist while going through the recovery process:
1. “Recovery” by James Arthur
It’s one of the inspiring songs about drug addiction that can be an anthem of your own journey to healing.
2. “One Day at a Time” by Joe Walsh
In one of his interviews, Walsh said “It feels like the phone weighs 80 pounds when you pick it up, but you gotta pick it up and ask for help”.
3. “That’s Why I’m Here” by Kenny Chesney
In this song, he embraces change by finally seeking help and highlighting how ‘losing control’ can take a serious toll on someone’s life. At the end of the track, Chesney sings, “I’ve been there, that’s why I’m here”, which is a reminder of how important it is to seek help before it’s too late.
4. “Wasted” by Carrie Underwood
Towards the end of the song, she sings “It’s time to be a man and stop living for yesterday. Gotta face it”, which pictures the person deciding to finally seek help.
5. “Sober” by Demi Lovato
In this song, she says sorry to her loved ones for relapsing and how she’s trying her best to be a role model to her fans.
6. “Not Afraid” by Eminem
This is one of the most inspirational songs about alcoholism that you can listen to if ever you feel like giving up on your recovery.
7. “Starting Over” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
In the end, he sings ‘We fall so hard, now we gotta get back what we lost”, which indicates his effort to change his life.
8. “Breaking The Habit” by Linkin Park
It’s a very emotional song that even the band’s frontman Chester Bennington was unable to perform it live for some time.
9. “Cleaning Out My Closet” by Eminem
The song’s title is a metaphor for how Eminem finally takes everything out of his chest and making it work for the sake of his child.
10. “The More I Drink” by Blake Shelton
As one of the songs alcohol addiction inspired, “The More I Drink” is about self-control and choosing the path of healing.
11. “Sober” by P!nk
As one of the songs on addiction, “Sober” is a reminder that no matter the feel-good effects of drugs, they will always end up into something worse.
12. “It’s Been a While” by Staind
Also, the song highlights how substance abuse can strain relationships as evidenced in the line “It’s been a while since I could call you”.
13. “Under the Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Despite its said backstory, “Under The Bridge” is one of the band’s biggest hits with a cult following decades after its release.
14. “Cold Turkey” by John Lennon
Interestingly, the song was banned from radio waves as some deemed it to be “pro-drugs”. But as one of the songs about addicts and their struggles, we still think this deserves a good listen.
15. “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails
In this raw and vulnerable track, the band sings about starting over again and keeping themselves away from whatever’s hurting them. While it has quite an ambiguous meaning, fans think that it’s a song about heroin addiction and self-harm.
While it’s an original Nine Inch Nails track, this song is also widely popularized by the legend Johnny Cash.
16. “The Needle And The Damage Done” by Neil Young
This 1972 song by Neil Young is an honest depiction of how many of his friends spiraled from the effects of heroin addiction. It’s a painfully raw track with Young saying during one of his live performances, “The real good ones that you never got to see was because of heroin”.
True enough, the lyrics lament “I watch the needle take another man”, which is a strong reminder of the dangers of drug addiction.
17. “You Don’t Know Jack” by Luke Bryan
“You Don’t Know Jack” is about a person encountering someone struggling with alcoholism. The title itself is a spin on the popular liquor brand ‘Jack Daniels’ with the lyrics saying “If you think it’s just a bottle in an old brown paper sack, you don’t know Jack.”
This is one of the alcohol addiction songs that shed light on someone’s struggle in trying to beat substance abuse.
18. “Rx (Medicate)” by Theory of a Deadman
The Theory of a Deadman’s “Rx (Medicate) is one of the songs for addiction that aim to raise awareness about substance abuse. It was a certified platinum that hit the #1 spot on the Mainstream Rock Songs.
Overall, it’s a song about how drug abuse can ruin families and how a person with drug addiction struggles to regain his life.
19. “Drug Addiction” by Colicchie
Colicchie’s “Drug Addiction” has Part 1 & Part 2, which details the singer’s own struggle with substance abuse. Here, Colicchie admits the pain of addiction and how he’s trying to hide his feelings from the world.
Towards the end of the song, the singer lives a compelling motivation: “I’m doing what it takes so my daughter will never see me high”.
20. “The A Team” by Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran may not be someone you’d think about when looking for songs about drug addiction, but his song “A Team” is definitely a surprise.
The emotive song is inspired by Sheeran’s encounter with a girl named ‘Angel’ when he performed in a homeless shelter. While it doesn’t directly talk about drugs, the line “breathin’ in the snowflakes” could be an insinuation that the song’s subject might be abusing drugs as well.
21. “Dancing With the Devil” by Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato has been open about her struggles with drug addiction, especially with her near-fatal overdose in 2018. In her song “Dancing With The Devil”, she gives insight into her relapse and the psychological aftermath of her subsequent overdose.
In the chorus, she honestly admitted “I was dancing with the devil, out of control. Almost made it to Heaven. It was closer than you know”
22. “I Took A Pill in Ibiza” by Mike Posner
Mike Posner’s “I Took A Pill in Ibiza” is a reflection on the rise and fall of his career as well as his brush with drug use. In the song, he also highlights the emptiness of the music industry and how he uses drugs to impress other people.
Overall, this song sports Posner’s unique sound also evident on his other hit “Cooler Than Me”.
23. “Sober” by Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson’s “Sober” probably has one of the best lines for songs about drugs: “picked all my weeds but kept the flowers”.
Clarkson said that it means living without addiction, which can also be a perfect metaphor for someone recovering from marijuana addiction.
Also, the song emphasized that despite the crash and burn, someone can still catch a glimpse of their selves. Overall, it’s a good motivation about how recovery is always possible.
24. “Did I Shave My Legs For This?” by Deanna Carter
Deanna Carter’s country hit “Did I Shave My Legs For This?” tells the story of a woman whose husband has an evident problem with alcohol consumption. In the song, the woman feels beaten down after his lover “wants a cold one again” instead of having a romantic night with her.
Overall, this song pictures the disappointments in relationships and how alcohol can strain relationships.
25. “Rehab” by Amy Winehouse
In the midst of her popularity in the early 2000s, Amy Winehouse had a tumultuous relationship with alcohol and drugs. And in this song, she expressed her reluctance to enter rehab, something that many people with addiction also struggle with.
This jazzy song serves as a reminder that even celebrities are not immune to the grips of addiction. And like you or your loved one, there’s always the option to go to rehab and choose recovery.
