Photo: Justin Timberlake | Sag Harbor Police Department
On June 18, news broke that pop star Justin Timberlake had been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. As expected, this prompted a range of responses on social media, from memes mocking the famous entertainer to serious questions about Justin Timberlake, alcohol, and addiction.
Justin Timberlake’s Recent Arrest
According to a June 18 Associated Press article, Justin Timberlake’s arrest occurred at around 12:30 a.m. in Sag Harbor, NY.
Law enforcement sources stated that Timberlake drove through a stop sign and “veered out of his lane,” which prompted police to pull him over.
Court documents, the AP reported, included the following description: “[Timberlake’s] eyes were bloodshot and glassy, a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath, he was unable to divide attention, he had slowed speech, he was unsteady afoot and he performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests.”
Field sobriety tests typically involve assessments of motor skills and balance, such as walking in a straight line, standing on one leg, and following an object with your eyes. Vanity Fair reported that Timberlake refused to take a Breathalyzer test, which can determine a person’s blood alcohol level.
The former boy band member was charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI), which is a misdemeanor. He was also cited for failing to stop at the stop sign and driving in the wrong lane. After his arraignment, he was released without bond.
This is his first DWI arrest, but it’s not the first time that Justin Timberlake’s alcohol use made the news. In December 2019, the married singer was photographed holding hands with Alisha Wainwright, who was his co-star (but not his wife). The two were in New Orleans at the time to film a drama called Palmer.
In response to the furor that the photo sparked, Timberlake blamed alcohol for what he referred to as “a strong lapse in judgment.”
“I drank way too much that night, and I regret my behavior,” he wrote in his public apology to his wife, Jessica Biel. “I should have known better.”
He has been less publicly contrite in the aftermath of his DWI.
Three days after his arrest, during a performance at the United Center in Chicago, Timberlake told the crowd that it had been a “tough week,” adding, ““I know I’m hard to love sometimes but you keep loving me right back.”
Then, just eight days later, while performing in Boston, he made a driving joke that reportedly “drew a mix of gasps and laughter from the crowd.”
Does Justin Timberlake Have a Problem With Drugs and Alcohol?
Are two public alcohol-related incidents a sign of a drinking problem? Is Justin Timberlake an alcoholic?
It is impossible to accurately diagnose a person with an addiction or a mental health concern through news reports alone. Among experts, offering a diagnostic opinion on a public figure that they’ve never met is highly controversial, with many arguing that it violates professional ethics.
Unless Justin Timberlake publicly acknowledges that he has an alcohol problem, any other statements to that effect are mere speculation.
However, that doesn’t mean that we can’t view his actions as teachable moments or opportunities to learn.
If the reports about Justin Timberlake and alcohol have caused you to suspect that you might have a drinking problem, a good first step is to schedule an assessment with your primary physician or another qualified professional.
If you’re not sure about scheduling an assessment, it may be helpful to review the diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder, which is the clinical term for alcoholism.
As established in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a person must meet at least two of the following to be accurately diagnosed:
- Spending a great deal of time on alcohol-related activities, which includes obtaining and drinking alcohol as well as recovering from its effects
- Having powerful cravings for alcohol
- Often drinking more, or for a longer period of time, than intended
- Failing to meet your obligations at work, in school, or at home as a result of your alcohol use
- Continuing to drink even after having social or interpersonal problems as a result of prior alcohol use
- Continuing to use alcohol even after incurring physical or psychological harm that you know is related to previous drinking
- Ending your involvement with important social, recreational, or work-related activities because of your alcohol use
- Drinking in situations where it is clearly physically hazardous to do so, such as prior to driving or operating heavy machinery
- Developing tolerance, which means you need to drink more than you used to in order to experience the same effects
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop or cut down on your drinking
- Wanting to drink less or quit drinking completely, but being unable to do so
If you schedule an assessment and are diagnosed with alcoholism, please remember that it and other forms of addiction are treatable conditions. When you get the right type of treatment, you can learn to manage your urges and build a healthier future for yourself, free from the constraints of compulsive alcohol use.
Get Help for Alcoholism at Phoenix Rising Recovery
Phoenix Rising Recovery offers a full continuum of personalized care for adults whose lives have been disrupted by alcoholism and other addictions. Features of programming at our alcohol rehab in Palm Springs, California, include detox, residential treatment, and multiple outpatient options.
When you choose Phoenix Rising Recovery, you will have the opportunity to work in close collaboration with a team of skilled and compassionate experts. Your treatment team will review your history, talk to you about your goals and expectations, then identify the programs and services that will best prepare you for successful, long-term recovery.
To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.
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