--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Drugs and alcohol are not my problem…" description: "\"Drugs and alcohol are not my problem — reality is my problem. Drugs and alcohol are my solution.\" — Russell Brand" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/russell-brand-1242_alcohol_drugs-and-alcohol-are-not-my-problem-rea_2387631.png" --- # Drugs and alcohol are not my problem — reality is my… ![“Drugs and alcohol are not my problem — reality is my problem. Drugs and alcohol are my solution.” quote by Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/russell-brand-1242_alcohol_drugs-and-alcohol-are-not-my-problem-rea_2387631.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/russell-brand-1242_alcohol_drugs-and-alcohol-are-not-my-problem-rea_2387631.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/russell-brand-1242_alcohol_drugs-and-alcohol-are-not-my-problem-rea_2387631.png) > “Drugs and alcohol are not my problem — reality is my problem. Drugs and alcohol are my solution.” [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker sees external substances as a symptom of deeper existential issues, implying that personal reality is the core problem. **In simple terms:** Problems are internal, not just about drugs or alcohol. Key Takeaway Address underlying reality, not just symptoms. Themes addiction existentialism self-awareness Mood reflective serious Type motivational psychological When to use this quote - addiction recovery - therapy - mindfulness - support groups Key Concepts self-medication coping mechanisms personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What underlying reality are you avoiding? - How can you confront personal issues without substances? A Different Perspective Substance use can be a legitimate coping tool for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alcohol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Drugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drugs/) [Drugs Alcohol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drugs-alcohol/) [Drugs and alcohol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drugs-and-alcohol/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem solving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-solving/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [“People do drugs because they can’t deal with the way they’re being treated.” 2 There is a reason why drugs and alcohol are rampant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-lubben/people-do-drugs-because-they-can-t-deal-with-the-way-they-re-being/) [Shelley Lubben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-lubben/) > [I'm a living, breathing example of someone who does the same exact thing, but drugs and alcohol just aren't a part of who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cm-punk/i-m-a-living-breathing-example-of-someone-who-does-the-same-exact/) [CM Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cm-punk/) > [It was an arranged marriage, put together by drugs and alcohol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-papa/it-was-an-arranged-marriage-put-together-by-drugs-and-alcohol/) Tom Papa > [The school had a big problem with drugs... especially Class A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-jones/the-school-had-a-big-problem-with-drugs-especially-class-a/) [Milton Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-jones/) > [There is not a single person alive who could keep a straight face and say "Oh yeah it's healthy, the reason I use drugs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/there-is-not-a-single-person-alive-who-could-keep-a-straight-face-and/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [Everybody needs a way out of that pain. Many people choose drugs and alcohol. Some people obsessively exercise or develop strange dietary habits, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariel-hemingway/everybody-needs-a-way-out-of-that-pain-many-people-choose-drugs-and/) [Mariel Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariel-hemingway/) > [Right now one in three teenagers meets the medical criteria for addiction, which is scary. I'm so driven because when I walked into rehab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-johnston/right-now-one-in-three-teenagers-meets-the-medical-criteria-for/) [Kristen Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-johnston/) > [When I was doing drugs and alcohol, I thought I'll have a drink and a line of this and I'll smoke this. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/when-i-was-doing-drugs-and-alcohol-i-thought-i-ll-have-a-drink-and-a/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [If I go out to dinner with you and you order wine, I leave. I won't be around drugs and alcohol at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/if-i-go-out-to-dinner-with-you-and-you-order-wine-i-leave-i-won-t-be/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [My life was a complete catatrophe. I was very, very sick from drugs and alcohol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-anastasio/my-life-was-a-complete-catatrophe-i-was-very-very-sick-from-drugs-and/) [Trey Anastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-anastasio/) > [That's all drugs and alcohol do, they cut off your emotions in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/that-s-all-drugs-and-alcohol-do-they-cut-off-your-emotions-in-the-end/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) > [I think drugs and alcohol aren't a wrestling problem, it's a life problem, it's a people problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cm-punk/i-think-drugs-and-alcohol-aren-t-a-wrestling-problem-it-s-a-life/) [CM Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cm-punk/) > [I can honestly say, all the bad things that ever happened to me were directly, directly attributed to drugs and alcohol. I mean, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-can-honestly-say-all-the-bad-things-that-ever-happened-to-me-were/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [Why do we want to test people for drugs and alcohol? Why don't we test them from stupidity, illiteracy and avarice? The place would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-do-we-want-to-test-people-for-drugs-and-alcohol-why-don-t-we-test/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Stay away from drugs and alcohol. Listen to your moms and dads. In this great country of ours you do whatever you set your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-mantle/stay-away-from-drugs-and-alcohol-listen-to-your-moms-and-dads-in-this/) [Mickey Mantle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-mantle/) ## More by Russell Brand > [It's difficult to believe in yourself because the idea of self is an artificial construction. You are, in fact, part of the glorious oneness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/it-s-difficult-to-believe-in-yourself-because-the-idea-of-self-is-an/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [“I was already a weary connoisseur of my dad’s pornography and had begun to develop my almost supernatural ability for guessing women’s bra sizes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/i-was-already-a-weary-connoisseur-of-my-dad-s-pornography-and-had/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [The right to free speech is important but it isn't as important as 'we're all human beings together, let's find solutions together.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/the-right-to-free-speech-is-important-but-it-isn-t-as-important-as-we/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [“now believe addiction to be a calling. A blessing. I now hear a rhythm behind the beat, behind the scratching discordant sound of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/now-believe-addiction-to-be-a-calling-a-blessing-i-now-hear-a-rhythm/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [“The most insightful thing I ever heard, was overheard. I was waiting for a rail replacement bus in Hackney Wick. These two old women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/the-most-insightful-thing-i-ever-heard-was-overheard-i-was-waiting/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [I struggle in these situations not to let my madness govern me, and to let the positive aspects of my character define my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/i-struggle-in-these-situations-not-to-let-my-madness-govern-me-and-to/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [Consciousness exists beyond your head, between our heads, and it can manifest harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/consciousness-exists-beyond-your-head-between-our-heads-and-it-can/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [Our basic fundamental desires are overly stimulated. A friend of mine said, "you have a generation of people that have been accidentally marketed to."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/our-basic-fundamental-desires-are-overly-stimulated-a-friend-of-mine/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [Heres one for Russell; angels are seen unaware,, but people all around me see evil everyday clearly,, what does this say about what people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/heres-one-for-russell-angels-are-seen-unaware-but-people-all-around/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [If people have some sort of yearning, dissatisfaction or some itching irritability, then it might because they aren't looking in the right direction for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/if-people-have-some-sort-of-yearning-dissatisfaction-or-some-itching/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [It would have been convenient to be gay. Just because of the grooming, the narcissism, stuff like that. But I have this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/it-would-have-been-convenient-to-be-gay-just-because-of-the-grooming/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [I think many of the boundaries that convention has placed upon us are arbitrary, so we can fiddle with them if we fancy. Gravity's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/i-think-many-of-the-boundaries-that-convention-has-placed-upon-us-are/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [One of the great sadnesses of modern life, because of our disenfranchisement and disillusionment with religion, is that we don't have access to these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/one-of-the-great-sadnesses-of-modern-life-because-of-our/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [The need to find out what will happen if I don't relent or moderate my actions has been a constant source of difficulty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/the-need-to-find-out-what-will-happen-if-i-don-t-relent-or-moderate/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [I also do a lot of Kundalini yoga.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/i-also-do-a-lot-of-kundalini-yoga/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) [Explore all 267 Russell Brand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) ## More Alcohol quotes > [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Stronger than alcohol, vaster than poetry, Ferment the freckled red bitterness of love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/stronger-than-alcohol-vaster-than-poetry-ferment-the-freckled-red/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [And, when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-when-night-darkens-the-streets-then-wander-forth-the-sons-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [ \[As in the case of\] alcohol prohibition, illegality has driven organized crime, sent countless people to jail, and killed many thousands. Repression does not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-branson/as-in-the-case-of-alcohol-prohibition-illegality-has-driven-organized/) [Sam Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-branson/) > [You can get a new phone or new trainers (sneakers) but you've only got one body so you have to look after it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyson-beckford/you-can-get-a-new-phone-or-new-trainers-sneakers-but-you-ve-only-got/) Tyson Beckford > [Alcohol doesn't console, it doesn't fill up anyone's psychological gaps, all it replaces is the lack of God. It doesn't comfort man. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-duras/alcohol-doesn-t-console-it-doesn-t-fill-up-anyone-s-psychological/) [Marguerite Duras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-duras/) > [In 1969, I gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-best/in-1969-i-gave-up-women-and-alcohol-it-was-the-worst-20-minutes-of-my/) [George Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-best/) > [Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house unless they have a well-stocked bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/thou-shalt-not-covet-thy-neighbor-s-house-unless-they-have-a-well/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [Alcohol is like Photoshop for real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/alcohol-is-like-photoshop-for-real-life/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [“Alcoholism is a choice... not a life sentence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-norman/alcoholism-is-a-choice-not-a-life-sentence/) David Norman > [Blunt force didn't knock out the drug epidemic. 21 million Americans are addicted to drugs or alcohol. And half of all federal inmates are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-botticelli/blunt-force-didn-t-knock-out-the-drug-epidemic-21-million-americans/) [Michael Botticelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-botticelli/) > [I go to parties sometimes until four, it's hard to leave when you can't find the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/i-go-to-parties-sometimes-until-four-it-s-hard-to-leave-when-you-can/) [Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/) > [I can't fill the hole with money. I can't fill it with alcohol, or drugs, or sex, so what do I need to fill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/i-can-t-fill-the-hole-with-money-i-can-t-fill-it-with-alcohol-or/) [Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/) > [Cocaine decisions that you make today, will mean nothing later on when you get nose decay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/cocaine-decisions-that-you-make-today-will-mean-nothing-later-on-when/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [I take really good care of myself. I promised myself long ago that I would never miss a hunting season, never poison my sacred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/i-take-really-good-care-of-myself-i-promised-myself-long-ago-that-i/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) [Browse all 1,953 Alcohol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Drugs and alcohol are not my problem — reality is my problem. Drugs and alcohol are my solution.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Brand" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/drugs-and-alcohol-are-not-my-problem-reality-is-my-problem-drugs-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alcohol" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/drugs-and-alcohol-are-not-my-problem-reality-is-my-problem-drugs-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/russell-brand-1242_alcohol_drugs-and-alcohol-are-not-my-problem-rea_2387631.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/russell-brand-1242_alcohol_drugs-and-alcohol-are-not-my-problem-rea_2387631.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/russell-brand-1242_alcohol_drugs-and-alcohol-are-not-my-problem-rea_2387631.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Drugs and alcohol are not my problem — reality is my problem. Drugs and alcohol are my solution.” — Russell Brand", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Russell Brand", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Drugs and alcohol are not my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/drugs-and-alcohol-are-not-my-problem-reality-is-my-problem-drugs-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/drugs-and-alcohol-are-not-my-problem-reality-is-my-problem-drugs-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```