Eminem celebrates 12 years of sobriety

Eminem is celebrating 12 years of sobriety, after battling addiction to prescription drugs.

The 47-year-old rapper - whose real name is Marshall Mathers - checked into rehab in 2007 after almost dying from a methadone overdose.

Eminem has now shared a picture of his 12 year sobriety chip with his 29.5million followers on Instagram writing: “Clean dozen, in the books! I’m not afraid.”

The musician has spoken openly about his addiction to prescription drugs which has inspired several albums, including 2009’s Relapse and 2010’s Recovery.

Read more: Eminem under fire for rap comparing himself to the Manchester bomber

Speaking about his 2007 methadone overdose in 2013 documentary How To Make Money Selling Drugs, Eminem said: “My organs were shutting down. My liver, kidneys, everything… They didn’t think I was going to make it. My bottom was going to be death.

“The doctors told me I’d done the equivalent of four bags of heroin. They said I was about two hours from dying.”

The rapper has been mentored by Sir Elton John - himself amost 30 years sober - to help overcome his addiction issues.

Read more: Sir Elton John celebrates 29 years of sobriety

Elton told Radio Five Live in 2010: "I've been helping Eminem over the last 18 months and he's doing brilliantly.

"I'm there if people want help. If people ask for help you tell them where to go but there's no point advising if they don't want it."

The rapper told Men’s Journal magazine in 2015 how he had replaced drug addiction with exercise.

He said: “I got an addict's brain, and when it came to running, I think I got a little carried away.

“I became a f***ing hamster. Seventeen miles a day on a treadmill. I would get up in the morning, and before I went to the studio, I would run eight and a half miles in about an hour. Then I'd come home and run another eight and a half."