In a "New York Times" article on February 8, 2010, he described his descent into drug addiction that began almost immediately after his success in "American Beauty". He said he hid his addiction from his wife; they separated in 2006, and he moved to an apartment where he began doing drugs full-time. During this time he worked sporadically, just enough to pay bills and buy drugs. His addiction started to cause problems on the sets of the films "P2" and "Weirdsville" and in 2008 he was arrested and ordered into counseling and 12-step programs. He relapsed, however, and "continued using heroin until he was broke".