Years of severe heroin addiction took its toll on the body of John Frusciante, but thankfully, he managed to overcome his steep descent and successfully rehabilitate himself in 1998. However, significant damage had been done. In 1996, Robert Wilonsky of the New Times LA interviewed the guitarist and described his state at the time as if he was talking about a character from a horror story. He said, "[Frusciante's] upper teeth are nearly gone now; they have been replaced by tiny slivers of off-white that peek through rotten gums. His lower teeth, thin and brown, appear ready to fall out if he so much as coughs too hard. His lips are pale and dry, coated with spit so thick it looks like paste" (via "Fornication"). The editor also commented on how he was covered in burns, bruises, and scars, along with drops of blood on his khaki pants.
To repair the damage to his body, Frusciante not only needed skin grafts to cover the needle scars (via PaperMag), but even worse was that he had to replace his rotted out teeth with a set of dentures, or if he failed to do so, an infection could have easily ended his life. In the end, the new teeth cost a fortune at $150,000 (via "Fornication"). The guitarist's return to RHCP and the massive success of "Californication" shortly after would fund the dental and surgical work, but that was still a considerable sum of money for someone who was broke before rehab, especially when, as "Fornication" pointed out, the dentures were not even a perfect fit.
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).
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