Jax Taylor is coming clean about his battles with coke and alcohol addictions. As seen in The Valley Season 2, his life has spiraled out of control. Cue a stay in rehab and his eventual proclamation that he is now living a sober lifestyle.
However, those who loved Jax often took on the brunt of his wrath. He now has a long way to go to prove his sobriety, as all senses of trust are broken (on many levels).
For years, fans watched Jax rage and regret (when caught) on Vanderpump Rules. Every year, he would claim that he was a work in progress once the reunions rolled around. Knowing what we know now, Jax was using cocaine.
But how long has Jax been under the influence of coke? What made his struggles with addiction ramp up in recent years? And most importantly, where does Jax now stand against his inner demons? We will explain all of these matters now.
Jax Taylor’s coke problem got worse amid Brittany Cartwright separation
After four years of marital non-bliss, Jax saw his estranged wife, Brittany Cartwright, pulling the plug on their marriage. Brittany announced their split on their once-shared podcast back in February 2024. Brittany then moved out of their shared home, citing mental health as her reason. In all, Brittany spent ten years of her life with Jax, and during these ten years, the toxicity of their relationship took its toll.
During the March 13 episode of his In the Mind of Jax Taylor podcast, Jax admitted that Brittany tried to get him help for years. Sadly, he never felt ready to tackle his addictions. Therefore, Brittany was “pushed to her limits” by his behaviors, causing her to bolt from their marriage. According to Jax, their separation caused a ripple effect in his life.
“When Brittany and I separated, that’s when the addiction got worse,” Jax admitted. “I’ve been doing it for a long time, but the addiction got worse during my divorce and my separation. I literally lost control. I hit rock bottom, and I had to go to rehab,” Jax added.
As Brittany later noted, his cocaine addiction during this time caused “irreparable damage to” her and their son, Cruz.
The Valley Season 2 saw Jax Taylor admit a violent rage against Brittany Cartwright
While separated, Brittany entertained a fling with one of Jax’s friends, Julian Sensley. When Jax saw a text coming in from his pal on Brittany’s iPad, he leaned in, learning that Brittany was still talking to Julian. This narrative should not have triggered him, as Jax and faithfulness rarely arrive hand-in-hand, plus he and Brittany were separated.
Nevertheless, Jax saw that Brittany had sent Julian an adult-rated text, which set him off. With Cruz in a nearby room, he began throwing bar stools around their house, shouting at his estranged wife.
In a dramatic reenactment, Brittany narrated his violent outburst on The Valley, explaining that Jax “flipped the coffee table, and it hit my knee. It was terrifying.” Also, Jax berated her and accused her of cheating, even though they were separated when this fling transpired.
By the end of Episode 2, Jax, prompted by his cast and the producers, finally checked into a mental health facility for a 30-day-long treatment program, admitting that he had lost control and needed help. However, he did state this or go without a deflection. “You destroyed my life,” Jax said to Brittany during this episode, who quickly clapped back, reminding Jax that he threw chairs and punched holes in the wall on his own accord.
Jax Taylor could find cocaine “within minutes” while battling his coke problem
Tom Schwartz and Jax understand certain aspects of each other’s lives, as Tom has also had to answer to many problematic showings on Bravo. But Tom knows that Jax needs a friend. So, he is happy to provide this service himself, thanks to his new position as a friend of the cast on The Valley Season 2.
Tom does not condone anything Jax has done. However, Tom plans on staying by his side, no matter what.
Recently, Tom appeared on an episode of Jax’s podcast. Here, Jax spoke about his addiction and recovery journey. As Jax spoke, Tom supplied him with an assist, calling out Jax’s “sixth sense” for finding cocaine wherever they went.
“I did,” Jax agreed. He then noted that he “had a sixth sense of finding it no matter where we were, what state or country we were in. I found it within minutes.” Tom then noted that he could always tell when Jax had been using cocaine by the way he held his drink and from “his eyes that often bulged out “of his skull.”
Jax Taylor claims 100-day sobriety during his cocaine battle
Following Jax’s violent outburst and treatment stay, he is allegedly sober, as stated on Bravo’s Hot Mic Podcast.
For the first time in his life, Jax came clean, saying that he had “a sickness” that he would need to work on for the rest of his life. “So, I am coming out that I am an addict. I have substance issues. Primarily with cocaine,” he confessed.
Thankfully, Jax is “proud” to admit that he is making great strides in his recovery journey. “I’m proud to say I’m 82, 83 days sober right now,” he revealed, stating that this is the longest stretch of sobriety he has accomplished since he was about the legal drinking age.
Jax also posted on Instagram, announcing that he was 100 days sober from cocaine and alcohol. “100 days down and the rest of my life to go,” he penned, as comments of support quickly rolled in.
The Valley is streaming on Peacock and Hayu in the UK and Ireland.
TELL US – HAVE YOU EVER BATTLED AN ADDICTION? IF SO, DO YOU HAVE ANY WISE WORDS OF ADVICE FOR JAX?
