Hunter Biden’s alcohol addiction issues began when he was 14, when he split a six-pack with his friend. By the time he was 18, he had already begun misusing harder drugs, and had been arrested for cocaine possession. Over the years, Hunter took numerous trips to rehab in attempts to address his addiction, but in 2014, at age 44, he was given an administrative discharge from the Navy Reserve after testing positive for cocaine.
The following year, his brother Beau died from brain cancer and, as a result, Hunter’s addiction issues got far worse. Shortly after Beau’s death, he began an affair with his brother’s widow, Hallie, with whom he shared an addiction to crack cocaine. Around this time, Hunter’s wife, Kathleen, discovered his drug addiction when she found a crack pipe in his car. It was also around this time that his affair with Hallie was exposed, and Kathleen began the process of divorcing him. For the next four years, Kathleen would search his car for drugs so that their daughters could borrow it safely.
In 2018, in the midst of his addiction to drugs and alcohol, Hunter bought a gun. Hallie discovered it shortly afterward and threw it away, but in 2024, Hunter was convicted for lying about his drug misuse when purchasing a gun, and for owning a gun while misusing drugs. After the conviction, Joe Biden reiterated his role as a father and his commitment to support his son.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
