Drugs and alcohol have been part of the music business for as long as there's been one, and they've ended a lot of careers and lives early. This isn't an anti-drug lecture. It's about the one thing this site cares about: keeping your career moving. Substance problems set careers back.

On May 2, 2013, Slayer's Jeff Hanneman died. The band later gave the cause as alcohol-related cirrhosis. He was 49. The list of players lost this way is long, and naming more of them isn't the point. The point is fewer names on it.

What bandmates can and can't do

The biggest problem is the code of silence. Bands cover for each other: the missed soundcheck, the blown show, the van stop that turned into three hours. Covering feels like loyalty. It mostly buys the problem more time.

If you care about a bandmate, say something, plainly and privately, and point them toward help. Then accept the hard part: you can't make anyone change. Only the person with the problem can fix it. What you can do is stop making it easier and keep the door open.

Moderation, or none at all

Moderation is the goal for a lot of people. When moderation stops working, abstinence is the fallback, and there's no shame in it.

At the 2013 Revolver Golden Gods, Kerry King raised a shot to Hanneman. Zakk Wylde, who had quit drinking, politely declined. Nobody in that room thought less of him for it. Turning down a drink isn't a statement about anyone else's choices. It's yours to make.

Treatment doesn't have to mean a celebrity rehab

The expensive clinics you hear about are out of reach for most working musicians. That doesn't mean help is.

  • Free peer meetings. Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings are free and held in cities around the world. Some touring musicians drop into meetings in whatever town they're playing that night.
  • Public and sliding-scale programs. Many areas have state-licensed or nonprofit treatment centers that charge based on income, or nothing at all.
  • A free referral line. In the US, the SAMHSA National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357, is free, confidential and open 24/7. It can point you to treatment and support near you, in English and Spanish.
  • Music-industry help. MusiCares helps eligible US music professionals access inpatient and outpatient treatment and sober living costs. Call 800-687-4227 on weekdays, or have someone call for you.
  • The courts, if it comes to that. Many US courts run drug court or diversion programs that route nonviolent cases toward treatment instead of jail. Rules vary by state and change often, so ask a public defender or legal aid office where you live.

Outside the US, ask your doctor or a local health service about free and low-cost options. Resources here were checked in October 2026.

The career math

Getting help isn't the end of the band. It's how you stay in it long enough to make the records you haven't made yet. Rest in peace, Jeff.

If someone in your band needs help, have the private conversation this week and bring one phone number with you.