Justin Bieber Admits 'Drugs Were A Numbing Agent' In The Early Days Of His Career
While Justin Bieber seemed to have it all when he emerged on the music scene as a teen with his hit "Baby," things were not what they seemed — and now, the 27-year-old admitted to using drugs to feel numb in the past.
"I think it would have probably resulted in just a lot of doing drugs and being posted up, to be honest," he admitted to GQ when asked what he would have been doing if he was stuck in quarantine five years earlier. Bieber said at the time he was surrounded by other people who were trying to escape their lives.
"There's all these opinions. And in this industry, you've got people that unfortunately prey on people's insecurities and use that to their benefit. And so when that happens, obviously that makes you angry. And then you’re this young angry person who had these big dreams, and then the world just jades you and makes you into this person that you don’t want to be. And then you wake up one day and your relationships are f**ked up and you’re unhappy and you have all this success in the world, but you’re just like 'Well, what is this worth if I'm still feeling empty inside?'
"I thought all the success was going to make everything good. And so for me, the drugs were a numbing agent to just continue to get through," he added. He said that he once had a dream of being the biggest superstar in the world and that rock bottom meant he "lost control of my vision for my career."
The "Yummy" singer explained that being a singer was meant to bring him joy, and recalled how crowds would gather when he started singing on the street as a kid.
- Justin Bieber Says Security Had To Check For A Pulse During His Drug Binges – ‘It Was Legit Crazy’
- Justin Bieber Talks Struggle Of Young Stardom, Suicidal Thoughts, Abusing ‘Heavy Drugs’ & Past Relationships
- Justin Bieber Details The Extent Of His Past Drug Abuse & Reveals He Was Misdiagnosed With Bipolar Disorder
Want OK! each day? Sign up here!
"I just think more and more as you’re a kid and you don’t have an identity yet, and you’re trying to figure out who you are, and to have everyone saying how good you are, how incredible you are? You just start to believe that stuff. And ego sets in," he confessed. "And then that’s where insecurities come in. And then you start treating people a certain way and feeling superior and above people. And then there’s this whole dynamic shift. I just woke up one day and I’m just like, Who am I? I didn’t know. And that was scary to me."
These days, the Biebs seems to be in a much better place. "I don’t want to let my shame of my past dictate what I’m able to do now for people," Bieber explained of moving forward.
"A lot of people let their past weigh them down, and they never do what they want to do because they think that they’re not good enough. But I’m just like: 'I did a bunch of stupid s**t. That’s okay. I’m still available. I’m still available to help. And I’m still worthy of helping.'"
Wife Hailey Bieber has stuck by his side through it all, but their picture-perfect marriage took some time to grow strong because "there was a lot going back to the trauma. There was just a lack of trust."