“I had a sixth sense” The Valley star Jax taylor opens up about his cocaine addiction

On the April 17 episode of his podcast In The Mind of a Man, reality TV star Jax Taylor spoke up about his past of cocaine addiction with former Vanderpump Rules co-star Tom Schwartz. Taylor didn't mince his words when Schwartz pointed out that Taylor had a remarkable knack for finding cocaine wherever they went.

"I did," Taylor acknowledged.

Elaborating:

"I had a sixth sense of finding it no matter where we were, what state or country we were in, I found it within minutes."

Now 139 days sober, Jax Taylor, the star of Bravo's The Valley, is reflecting on his journey through addiction and recovery while preparing fans for what he describes as a "real, real rough" second season. The 45-year-old father, who recently separated from wife Brittany Cartwright, has been open about his struggles since revealing his addiction last month.

As viewers await the new season documenting his darkest moments, Jax Taylor presents a story of transformation—from a man dependent on substances for social interaction to someone committed to sobriety and personal growth.

Jax Taylor talks about the evolution of his addiction to cocaine

Jax Taylor's conversation with Schwartz revealed how his relationship with cocaine transformed over time. What began as recreational use gradually became a necessity for basic social functioning.

"It got to the point where like, I needed it to be social," Taylor explained during the podcast.

Elaborating:

"It was a social drug for me. Like in the beginning days, in the early days, I did it of course because I like the rise, but towards the end I did it just to stay awake because I would crash around 9 or 10 o'clock."

This progression from enjoyment to dependency illustrates the insidious nature of addiction. For Jax Taylor, cocaine eventually served as a tool to combat fatigue rather than a source of pleasure.

Schwartz added his perspective, noting he could always identify when Jax Taylor had been using cocaine by specific physical tells. According to Schwartz, Taylor's manner of holding his drink and his "eyes bulging out of his skull" were unmistakable signs of substance use.

The timing of Jax Taylor's sobriety journey coincides with filming for The Valley season 2, creating what will likely be a difficult viewing experience for the reality star when the episodes air.

"I know where I am at today and I'm okay to look back and be like, man I was a bad person because I'm pretty strong person today," Taylor reflected.

Explaining:

"And I've worked so hard to get where I'm at. And also, keep in mind, the show was shot a year ago. I am in a different place. I have different relationships. You know, the dynamic has changed. So I can look back and like, wow, I've grown a lot."

The premiere of the second season already hinted at the severity of his struggles, showing Jax Taylor after his separation from Cartwright and featuring a scene where Schwartz urged him to seek professional help following an aggressive outburst directed at his estranged wife.

Jax Taylor's current sobriety streak stands at 139 days, a milestone he seems proud of as he navigates life without substances.

"Going strong," Taylor told Schwartz.

He elaborated further:

"Have no interest in drinking or touching drugs again. I don't even have a … I thought for sure I was going to have a little bit of a like, how … am I going to be tempted? Because, you know, I still go out a little bit and I still go to restaurants, but I am not tempted at all."

He describes himself as "California sober," typically meaning he abstains from alcohol and hard drugs but may still use cannabis. Jax Taylor mentioned sometimes substituting energy drinks like Celsius or Red Bull for alcohol in social settings.

Despite his progress, Taylor admits that social situations still pose challenges:

"It's not difficult. But it's just, I have to really psych myself up if I know I'm going to be in a large group where people are drinking."

Jax Taylor’s physical transformation

Beyond the mental and emotional aspects of recovery, Taylor has experienced significant physical changes. When reflecting on his appearance in early episodes of The Valley season 2, he expressed disgust at his former self.

"I 100% gave myself the ick," Taylor confessed.

He described his qualms further:

"I look disgusting. I was like, under like 180 lbs., I just look gross and I never want to get back [to that]."

Jax Taylor’s road to recovery is a bumpy one, but he’s facing it head-on and looking a whole lot healthier while he’s at it. The visual contrast between his past and present isn’t just striking, it’s motivational. Seeing how far he’s come seems to be fueling his commitment to staying clean.

These days, he’s diving deep into therapy and clinging to sobriety as he works on piecing his life back together. But with his split from Brittany Cartwright still fresh, there’s no shortage of emotional baggage to unpack. That added layer of heartbreak makes his healing process even more complex.

The upcoming season of The Valley promises an unfiltered look at this messy, honest chapter. Expect less surface-level drama and more real-life stakes as Jax grapples with the long-term fallout of addiction.

By owning up to his mistakes and staying open about the tough stuff, he’s giving hope to anyone walking a similar path. Recovery’s never simple, but Jax Taylor seems genuinely committed to the hard work it takes to change and maybe even come out better on the other side.

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You can watch The Valley Season 2 on Bravo every Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET, with episodes available to stream the next day on Peacock.