Pete Davidson opened up about the severe scale of his past substance addiction in a September 2026 interview with Variety, detailing a daily routine of heavy drug use that included cooking liquid ketamine, consuming acid, mushrooms, and whippets, smoking weed all day, and eating pills. The former Saturday Night Live cast member stated that his tolerance reached a point where he no longer felt high unless he was sober, which made him realize the severity of his addiction.
Hitting Rock Bottom After Leaving Saturday Night Live
The comedian reached a low point in 2023, exactly one year after leaving Saturday Night Live and shortly after the release of his autobiographical television series, Bupkis. Davidson explained that playing himself and constantly living in his own personal turmoil proved so traumatic that he relied on drugs to cope with the pain. Losing the routine and structure of his former job accelerated the downward spiral.
When he turned 30 while in rehab, Davidson faced a bleak career and personal situation, realizing he could no longer sustain the lifestyle. He noted that recovery required an internal resolve rather than external pressure from a job or another person, stating that an individual has to genuinely want sobriety.
The Intervention From His Mother and Entering Rehab
Davidson pointed to his mother as the primary catalyst for his decision to seek professional help. She told him that her greatest fear was waking up to news that something fatal had happened to him, a perspective that made him realize he could not put her through that trauma.
Following the intervention, Davidson entered rehab and stepped away from the second season of Bupkis. He also reflected on his contribution to the intense media scrutiny surrounding his personal life, acknowledging that he had previously fueled the narrative through his own actions.
Current Sobriety and Life Changes
Davidson maintains long-term sobriety from hard drugs and cannabis, though he permits himself roughly four beers a year. He stated that it has been two to three years since he used hard drugs and over a year since he stopped smoking marijuana, noting that quitting weed proved to be the most difficult part of the process.
Having a child has made maintaining sobriety easier for the comedian, who has restructured his life away from the heavy substance use that marked his post-SNL years.