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Gerard Butler is glad he went to rehab

Oct 18, 2012, 16:01 GMT

Gerard Butler

Gerard Butler is 'glad' he went into rehab.

The 'Bounty Hunter' actor spent three weeks in the Betty Ford Center in February to be treated for a reliance on prescription drugs.

Even though he believes if he had more willpower he wouldn't have needed specialist treatment, Gerard admits the experience has made him a better person.

He said: 'Maybe a stronger person wouldn't have needed to go. When you hear the word rehab, you think, 'He's a mess, he's f***ed up.' But I'm glad I did it. I've made a s**t load of wrong decisions in my life. But I know I've made some right ones as well. 'They really do rip you apart [in rehab]. You get rid of a bunch of s**t, realise a bunch more s**t, and you make a plan.'

Gerard admits he was '

He explained to the November issue of Men's Journal magazine: 'I haven't had a drink in 15 years.

'I was actually taking a minimal amount [of pills] when I went in.

'It was more about becoming a mental warrior and not letting pain bother you. The [instructor] would say, 'I don't want to hear about your f***ing MRIs or your f***ing X-rays ... Let's learn how to say to the pain, 'F**k you.' '

After the accident - in which the actor was pushed underwater by a wave for almost a minute - Gerard had 'visceral flashbacks' which left his mind 'in a place where [he] didn't want it to be'.