'The Valley' Star Jax Taylor Shares Battle with Cocaine Addiction and Celebrates 80 Days of Sobriety After Rehab

Jax Taylor opened up about his struggles with substance abuse, including cocaine, which heightened following his February 2024 separation from estranged wife Brittany Cartwright. The Valley star detailed his two trips to rehab before successfully attempting a “California sober” life.

“I am an addict. I have substance issues — primarily with cocaine. It’s hard to say out loud,” Jax admitted during the March 4, 2025, episode of Alex Baskin‘s “Hot Mic” podcast. “I’ve been dealing with this on and off since I was 23 and now I’m 45. There were times where I would stop doing it but then there were times where I’d go heavy on it.”

During his March 2025 appearance on the “Hot Mic” podcast, Jax shed a light on his time on Vanderpump Rules where his behavior caused concern among fans and staff.

“[They] could kind of tell that I was on something. Obviously, production and [other] people, they didn’t know what I was doing,” the Bravo star explained.” Everything I was doing was on my own but I was just on that train and I couldn’t get off.”

Jax shared that he often gets asked if he struggles with alcoholism, which he denied. However, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder during his rehab stay.

“I don’t necessarily think I have an alcohol problem but the two go hand in hand,” he said during a separate part of the interview. “I can’t do cocaine without drinking. So, I just gave up both. I’m proud to say I’m 83 days sober right now, which is the longest I’ve ever gone in my life without either.”

Jax entered an inpatient treatment facility in July 2024, five months after Brittany announced their separation. She officially filed for divorce that August.

“Jax has always been candid about his mental health struggles, especially during the past few months on his podcast,” Jax’s rep told Us Weekly in a statement in July 2024. “He has made the decision to seek inpatient treatment. This is a particularly sensitive time for him and his family. They ask for privacy and respect until he is ready to speak more on this matter.”

The reality star admitted that he “got a lot” from his first rehab visit, but wasn’t able to stay sober.

“Brittany and I were actually on our way to a doctor’s appointment for our son [Cruz Michael Cauchi], and her phone was connected to my car. A man’s name came up, and it just triggered me,” Jax reflected on the “Hot Mic” podcast.

He later explained, “I lost it. I went crazy in the car, you know, yelling. And the worst part about all of this is, and this is why I checked myself in, is that my son was in the backseat. And that’s when I knew. I’m like, ‘S–t, I have a problem. It’s still there.’”

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 09: (L-R) Cruz Cauchi, Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright attend the debut of Fantasy Lab Las Vegas’ Midnight Dreams immersive experience at the Fashion Show mall on June 09, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)

Two days after his outburst, Jax’s friends sat him down for an intervention while trying to help turn his life around.

“It was a lot of people, and — not to break the fourth wall or anything — but my manager saw me kind of going a little bit off the rails, and they said, ‘Maybe this is a good move for you,’” Jax explained. “So, I honestly have to thank them because I was bad. It was really, really bad. I don’t know where I would be if I didn’t go to this institution.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).