French Montana is carrying on Mac Miller’s legacy years after his death.
While fans still struggle to accept Miller’s death nearly four years later, Montana has moved on and used his experience to help others overcome addiction.
Montana told host Janine Rubenstein in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE Every Day that Miller’s death brought him to his lowest point in life. But he eventually turned it into an inspiration to reach out to others.
He stated in the podcast:
“It touched me because I’m in that space and I consider these artists as my brothers and my family. And when we lose one, it’s like damn near losing part of us. I’ve been thinking about this for a very long time. What can I do to help?”
Following Miller’s death, the 37-year-old “Unforgettable” hitmaker struggled with alcohol and prescription drug addiction. He also spent two weeks in a hospital before getting sober in 2019.
Montana described alcohol as easy to get into but difficult to get rid of. It is also said to happen with pills. He did warn everyone that these things could be dangerous in the end.
He noted that the overdose rate has more than doubled in the last 20 years, particularly among artists and celebrities who refuse to talk about their problems.
Miller, the first African-born artist to achieve RIAA Diamond status, made a huge move in 2017 when he raised $500,000 to support his charitable efforts in Morocco. That same year, he assisted in establishing a hospital in Uganda.
Montana recently partnered with Guardian Recovery Services, NAQI Healthcare, which assists people in ending their substance abuse through a medically supervised home detox program.
It is available in press time in California, Texas, Florida, and New York. It will also be available in several states across the United States in the coming years.
With the collaboration, Montana sent a heartfelt message expressing his joy at being able to help people in the comfort of their homes. The team’s goal with the project is to help people stay alive wherever they are.
According to the NAQI Healthcare website, they treat people addicted to opiates, alcohol, cocaine, stimulants, synthetics, and prescription drugs, to name a few.