Montel Williams opens up about his opioid addiction. The former talk show host said it was easy for him to obtain opioids from doctors because of his celebrity status.

The 68-year-old was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999, and in a recent interview, Williams explained how he was able to get his prescriptions while traveling.

Williams noted that a simple call to the hotel concierge would allow him to obtain the medications during his trip.

Williams said celebrities can “get whatever they want”, during an interview with Maria Menounos on his podcast, “Care Squad” on December 17, according to PEOPLE.

The former TV star hosted “The Montel Williams Show” between 1991 and 2008, and he said that while traveling across the country to promote the show, he could “name the set” of drugs he needed, one of which he said was morphine. .

“Back then, we didn’t have oxycodone,” Williams said. “We had things like Talwin, we had things like morphine. I found out I could call the hotel doctor and get a prescription for 10 days of whatever medicine I wanted and they would would happily give it.

Williams told Menounos that he began stocking up on prescription drugs and was taking up to 13 pills a day.

“So I started stocking up. There was a time when I was taking between 12 and 13,” Williams said. “Some of these drugs serve a purpose.”

The Daytime Emmy Award winner added that he doesn’t believe opioids have any long-term use.

“I don’t believe any of the opioids have any utility for long-term use. They are only intended for short-term use. That’s what they should be. This is why they were invented. This is what they were created for.

He added: “However, I was at the point where, the more you take, the less it works. »

Williams also told Menounos that his primary care doctor refused to fill his opioid prescriptions and even threatened to call the DEA on the talk show host.

“Dude, you’re done. I’m not writing this to you anymore,” Williams’ doctor said.

“’I’m literally going to send a message to the DEA and tell them you’re looking for a doctor,’” Williams recalled. “’I’m going to put you on the national registry, you shouldn’t be prescribed these drugs.’”

Williams added that her primary care physician recommended cannabis over prescription opioids to treat her multiple sclerosis symptoms.

“‘If you want relief, other patients like you have told me this marijuana thing seems to be working…You’re a smart guy. Look it up, find it out.’ And that’s exactly what I did.

Williams said “Forbes” that he now uses cannabis daily to manage his symptoms of multiple sclerosis, noting that his body is “saturated with cannabinoids” for pain relief and flexibility. He said the drug also helps promote protective neuroplasticity nerves in the brain.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological and autoimmune disease that is usually diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 40. Williams was diagnosed after retiring from military life and began researching options shortly afterward. He said marijuana had a bad reputation before it became a prescribed medicine.

“Cannabis should have been treated like any other herbal medicine for the last hundred years,” he said. “Find the best portion of that medication and use it in the best modality for which it can be used.”

Williams launched a cannabis brand called “Inspire by Montel” after partnering with Primitiv Group Boston. The brand offers THC and CBD vapes, and Williams says marijuana has helped him relieve his symptoms better than any opioid he’s tried.

According to Boston.comWilliams wanted to make sure others found the same relief they found with marijuana and began advocating for the drug.

“I am trying to ensure that other patients like me have access to effective medicines across the country,” he said. “There were hardly any celebrities or public figures who came forward like me to talk about my use of cannabis.”