Matthew Perry wants to inspire more people to embrace sobriety.
Matthew Perry and Lisa Kudrow at the Phoenix House gala
The former 'Friends' star, who battled addictions to alcohol, Vicodin, methadone and amphetamines during his 10 year stint on the sitcom, was presented with the Phoenix Rising Award for raising money to help others overcome their addictions at a charity gala in Beverly Hills on Monday night (15.06.15), but doesn't consider himself a hero.
The 45-year-old actor said: "It's very gratifying but I'm not a hero, I'm just a guy who got sober and I'm passing along the message the best I can and I think that maybe because I was on a TV show more people listen."
Matthew received the award at the 12th Annual Triumph for Teens Awards Gala from the rehabilitation organisation Phoenix House, which helps 18,000 young people in the US every year, and recently visited one of its treatment centres.
He said: "It's an amazing place that helps teens with drug and alcohol abuse and I went and visited their place about six weeks ago and met some of the kids and it was really wonderful."
The 'Odd Couple' star was also thrilled to be reunited with his former co-star Lisa Kudrow, who presented him with the award at the event.
He said: "It's great having Lisa here, it sort of feels like no time has passed, we pick up where we left off."
Matthew opened a sober living house to help men transition from rehab into the real world in 2013 and admitted at the time: "The thing that I'm most proud of in my life is that if a stranger came up to me and said, 'I can't stop drinking. I can't stop drinking. Can you help me?' I can say, 'Yes, I can help you.' "
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