On Substance and Stone: This is How the Real-Life Jay Jason Mewes Strikes Back from Addiction
The actor and the character should always be separated and never be the same — but what if they aren’t?
In the case of Jason Mewes, the line between both are blurred as the Jay on-screen and off-screen are one and the same — a real-life addict and alcoholic.
Getting to know the Jay in Jay & Silent Bob
Popularly known as the other half of hilarious stoner duo Jay and Silent Bob, Jason Mewes had found tremendous success in his effective portrayal of his namesake character Jay as it debuted in the movie Clerks (1994). Together with his partner/longtime pal Kevin Smith, the comedian who played Bob, Mewes went on to capture audiences with their crazy tandem which went on to reprise their roles for more films on the roll including Mallrats (1995), Chasing Amy (1997), Dogma (1999), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), Clerks II (2005), Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2006).
But outside of his character, Jason Mewes is also a Creative Producer at SModCo Internet Radio (SIR), which was launched in 2011 as well as the Creative Producer at SModCo Internet TV (SIT), which was released a year later.
Outside of the franchise, Mewes also appeared in a number of films and also lent his voice to several video games, earning him the award “Dirtiest Mouth Award” from MTV for his role in Jay and Silent Bob.
The rise and fall – and rise again of the Hollywood star
Despite having a successful run in Hollywood, the New Jersey-born actor’s childhood was actually a disaster.
Born on June 12, 1974, Mewes grew up not knowing his father, and had spent most of his childhood with his aunt because his mother was in and out of the prison for drug and credit card fraud-related crime — an act which the young Mewes accompanied his ex-con mother in doing.
The exposure to this kind of environment at a very young age eventually led the then teenaged Mewes into getting hooked with drugs, progressing into a full on drug addiction during his high school days.
Continuing this kind of lifestyle for years, his friend, Kevin Smith, whom he met in the same high school he attended, was forced to put Mewes in a rehabilitation clinic back in 1997.
Just two years after staying in, he found out that his mother was diagnosed with AIDS. In an attempt to get sober, the actor decided to move in with his mother who started to take her medication to ease the withdrawal symptoms.
Though he tried so hard to fight his inner demons, Mewes’ attempt seemed to be done in vain as in the same year, he was arrested for the illegal possession of heroin. As a result, he was required to fulfill community service and engage himself in drug counseling.
It was in 2002 when things got worse for him. His mother eventually passed away and Mewes didn’t take it too well, drowning himself deeper and deeper in drugs and alcohol as a way to cope with grief.
And just one year after that incident, Mewes decided to surrender himself at a New Jersey court and was quickly proven guilty for violation of probation sentence where he was put in rehab for six straight months.
Fortunately, he was allowed to attend the film shooting in Los Angeles but was warned that if he ever tried to break the rules, he would be sentenced to 5-year imprisonment as a result.
Even serving his time in the rehab, things didn’t really change that much for the comedian. He started living with his friend, Smith, whose wife eventually kicked him out because he was caught doing drugs again.
To add to this, Mewes even stole Smith’s ATM card and withdrew $1,100 amount of cash which he used to supply for his vices.
Because of such unacceptable behavior, Mewes’ friends ran out of patience with him.
The once inseparable pair were now nowhere near each other, leaving the actor alone with his struggles.
Turning tables, at last
To say the comedian found himself in a serious situation is an understatement — it’s a life-threatening one.
Still having no control over his addiction, the now all-alone comedian found himself in the middle of a fire as the place he’s been staying in was burning, one Christmas morning on top of it all.
The reason?
According to the incident report, the cause of the fire was due to a candle – the exact same candle used in Mewes’ drug intake. The place that he was staying in during this moment had no light, no electricity, no food in the kitchen, and no potential hazards around, leaving the said lit candle and a bunch of drugs used by Mewes’ to blame.
It was exactly during this moment that the comedian had a change of heart. After years of trying and failing to be sober, the actor went to his car and drove back to New Jersey – where he again surrendered himself and was put in six months court-mandated rehab or a year in prison.
And, just like that, that one fateful morning did not seem to be so bad anymore.
Friendship beyond the silver screen
Time and time again, Jay & Silent Bob prove themselves to be more than just a character they are playing.
They are indeed the comedic duo fans grew to love, through and through as Smith continued to be the Silent Bob to Mewes’ Jay in both the peaks and bottoms of his career, despite falling off a couple of times.
When Mewes thought there was no one there to help him anymore, the other half came in to save the day – making him fully dedicated to his decision to remain sober this time.
To make his bouncing back possible, Smith started a podcast entitled Jay & Silent Bob Get Old where Mewes told his story about how he struggled with addiction. The podcast was well-received by the public, giving the recovering Mewes another shot not just in the industry but also in life. The podcast has gone on to produce over 200 episodes, went on tour and conducted charity benefits during its run.
Up to this day, the movie-turned-podcast star kept his promise not to fall off the wagon and hop into recovery instead. The show might be over – for now – but Mewes had taken everything that he had experience on that show as a reminder that he had made in sobriety.
Mewes has now remained sober for 10 years and counting, looking as happy as he ever was back in his earlier days and is showing no plans in getting back to the lifestyle he used to have.
Everyone has a different story to tell. It just turns out that for Mewes, it took one deadly situation for him to realize that he needed to change and luckily, there is a friend who is always willing to accept and help him out, no matter what.
Ready to share you recovery story to the world? Give us a word in the comment section and help another one to succeed in his struggles today.
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