Eminem Speaks Out About His Drug Addiction In ‘How To Make Money Selling Drugs’ [VIDEO]

Hip-hop star Eminem has opened up about his prescription-drug addiction in a riveting excerpt from the documentary film “How To Make Money Selling Drugs.”

In the brief clip, Eminem describes the depth of his problem, saying that the first time he took Vicodin, it was a “feeling of ‘Ahhh,’ everything was not only mellow, but didn’t feel any pain. It just kind of numbed things.” He goes on to explain that he was in denial about his addiction, since he wasn’t abusing drugs such as cocaine or heroin.

“People tried to tell me that I had a problem,” Eminem said. “I would say, ‘Get that [expletive] person outta here. I can’t believe they said that [expletive] to me. They know nothing about my [expletive] life. I’m not out there shooting heroin. I’m not [expletive] out there putting coke up my nose. I’m not smoking crack.’” However, he was abusing Vicodin, as well as Valium, Xanax and other prescription drugs. “I literally thought I could control it,” he said.

The Detroit rapper also described a scary episode in which his drug abuse landed him in the hospital. “Had I got to the hospital about two hours later, I would have died,” he said. “My organs were shutting down. My liver, kidneys, everything. They were gonna have to put me on dialysis, they didn’t think I was gonna make it. My bottom was gonna be death.”

Eminem also discusses the hellish experience of detoxification, saying that he didn’t sleep for three weeks straight, and had to work to regain basic motor skills. “I just couldn’t believe that anybody could be naturally happy or naturally function or be just enjoying life in general without being on something,” he said.

“My name is Marshall. I’m an addict,” Eminem concludes.

“How To Make Money Selling Drugs” is a documentary about the drug industry and the war on drugs, told from the perspective of former drug dealers and featuring interviews with actress Susan Sarandon, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, television producer David Simon (creator of “The Wire”), rapper 50 Cent and others. The film is out now in select theaters, as well as via iTunes and On Demand. Click here for more information about the movie via the Tribeca Film Festival.