Gerard Butler in rehab?

Gerard Butler is being treated for substance abuse issues in rehab, it has been claimed

Gerard Butler is in rehab being treated for substance abuse issues, it has been alleged.

The 42-year-old actor - who is famously teetotal - checked himself into the Betty Ford Center in California nearly three weeks ago, according to American website TMZ.com.

The star is apparently seeking treatment after becoming overly reliant on perscription drugs and took the decision to enter rehab before the issue became an addiction.

It is claimed the actor's problems started when he injured himself while filming the action movie 300 in 2006 and the issue was exacerbated when he escaped death during a surfing stunt in December 2011.

Gerard had been shooting scenes for his upcoming movie, Men of Mavericks, when he was thrown off his surfboard and hit by a succession of 12-foot high waves, before being dragged from the waters and rushed to hospital.

GERARD BUTLER 'ESCAPES DEATH'

Butler, who is thought to be leaving the clinic today, recently spoke about his previous battle with alcohol addiction: 'I used to drink until I couldn't remember anything. I was just mad for it and on a death wish. It was madness,' he said.

Adding: 'One or two drinks was never enough for me. I was a foot-on-the-floor-all-the-way drinker, so it had to go. I don't miss it.'

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