Of his advocacy work, Matthew Perry told Jennifer Hudson that, after he became famous, he realized that it did not "fix the inside" or fill the piece he felt he was missing. Instead, he used his fame to give voice to others struggling with addiction. The star revealed, "What I found [to fill that void] was helping people, and helping people on a grand scale sometimes, because I was fortunate enough to be on that show."
Indeed, helping people was Perry's passion once he achieved sobriety. In 2013, Perry was honored with a Champion of Recovery award from President Barack Obama's Administration's Office of National Drug Control Policy for his work advocating for drug courts and for "giving a voice to the millions of Americans in recovery." Not only did his advocacy work change the lives of others battling addiction, but it was life-changing for the star, too. "I found I got the same amount of juice from helping one guy as 100,000 people," Perry further told Hudson. "You see the light come on in their eyes and they start to come to life because of stuff that you've said and that's the dream come true."
This was met with cheers from the audience, as Hudson reiterated that Perry was a "walking miracle." For the countless people Perry helped, and will continue to help even after his death, his life and sobriety were indeed miraculous.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
