Eminem has credited music with giving him the focus to overcome his drug addiction issues.

The Slim Shady hitmaker is now sober after a four-year hell of painkiller and sedative abuse, which led to a near-fatal overdose in 2005.

The rap icon reveals he is thankful that he overcame his demons, unlike other addicts, and believes his passion for making music drove him to get clean.

He tells BBC Radio 1, "I certainly could have taken another path. I know that there are so many addicts in this world and people who have problems like that that don't make it. I think that one thing that keeps me pushing forward is the music, and the passion, so I am thankful for that.

"I think back then it was so big in my head. Let me take this and this, drink this and this and get through it, as opposed to see the people, connect with the crowd and have fun with it."