America has become bombarded with celebrity scandals, arrests, and relapses this year. 2010 has been filled with tales of drug and alcohol abuse, and the celebrity slip-ups just keep on coming.

The Lohans refuse to admit that their daughter has a problem, Mel Gibson’s life has spiraled out of control, and the E! Network has had to add another chapter to Charlie Sheen’s True Hollywood Story.

Another concerning aspect of the celebrity circus is the fact that Lindsay Lohan is reported to make up to $1 million for her first post-rehab interview. This appears to be more of a reward than a punishment, which may not help her in the long run.

From the multi-talented DJ AM to tabloid fixture Anna Nicole Smith, some celebrities have paid the ultimate price for their drug and alcohol addictions. Others have learned from their past mistakes, and have invested the hard work and effort into living a successful sober lifestyle.

Recovery typically isn’t easy for anyone, but mix in the fact that stars have the financial and social connections to get anything they desire, it can make it even tougher. Despite the added pressures and temptations, these men have taken the right path to a healthy and successful celebrity legacy:    

Eminem- As one of the greatest performers of all time, Eminem has lived an extremely risky life over the years. Some of the songs that made him famous in the first place were based on drug and alcohol binges, domestic violence, and unapologetic lyrics. Eminem was extremely open and honest about his past problems with prescription medications and sleeping pills in his 2010 album, Recovery. The album has already sold more than two million copies and demonstrates how focused and determined he is to take the crown back as the best rapper alive. His lyrics shed a lot of light on where his addictions took him, and where he is now in his recovery. With a clear mind and a passion to succeed, Eminem is back on top of the world.

Robert Downey Jr. - He has become somewhat of a poster child on how to get your career back on track. Robert Downey Jr. spent years dealing with his addictions, and almost lost everything because of it. After trips to jails, rehabs, and programs, he finally got his act together in a major way. Downey Jr. traded in the drugs for scripts, and is now one of the world’s biggest actors. Roles in Iron Man, Sherlock Holmes, and The Soloist have solidified his legacy as one of the most remarkable comeback stories in Hollywood history.   

Craig Ferguson- An extremely funny and entertaining comedian, Ferguson is loved by late night viewers across the country for his quirky sense of humor and social commentary. He almost never made it to the grand stage of late night television, as his alcohol abuse almost ended his life many years ago. On an episode of his show, Ferguson talked openly and honestly to his viewers about his recovery process, and shared the details about how he considered killing himself on Christmas day in the early 90’s due to his drinking.  

Ben Affleck- Boston’s beloved Ben Affleck spent time in rehab for his issues with alcohol back in 2001. After taking the right steps in his life, Affleck met wife Jennifer Garner on the set of their film Daredevil, and have been married since 2005. Together they have two daughters and two extremely successful careers. Affleck directed and stars in the upcoming crime thriller The Town, which is based in Charlestown Massachusetts.  

This is just an example of a diverse group of celebrities that have been able to get their lives and careers back on the right track. Hopefully Lohan can learn a thing or two from these Hollywood heavy hitters and make the right decisions when she’s released from her court ordered stint in rehab. Only time will tell, but the statistics should be more than enough than she needs to see where substance abuse can take her.