Johnny Depp on being an alcoholic: "I don't have a physical need for the drug alcohol"

Johnny Depp decided to set the record straight about his relationship with alcohol during an interview with Rolling Stone magazine.

In an article featured in the July issue of the magazine, Depp is explains why he is not an alcoholic.

"No, I don't have the physical need for the drug alcohol," he says. "No, it's more my medication, my self-medication over the years just to calm the circus. Once the circus kicks in, the festivities in the brain, it can be ruthless."

In fact, Depp, 50, told the magazine he decided to give up alcohol once he realized he could function just as well with or without it.

"I just decided that I pretty much got everything I could get out of it," he said. "I investigated wine and spirits thoroughly, and they certainly investigated me as well, and we found out that we got along beautifully, but maybe too well."

"Maybe that's why Hunter [Thompson] and I got along so well," he added. "I'm able to continue for great periods of time, weirdly. For weeks. There's no great point to it, ultimately. You realize that you wouldn't treat your car that way."

The actor added that he is so serious about his pledge of sobriety that not even his breakup with longtime girlfriend Vanessa Paradis forced him back into his old drinking habits.

"In terms of the breakup, I definitely wasn't going to rely on the drink to ease things or cushion the blow or cushion the situation," he explains. "Cause that could have been fatal. I felt it was my duty to be real clear throughout that."

Depp attributed his strength to quit drinking to the need to focus on something important, his children.

"I had something pretty serious to focus on, really," he said, "which was making sure that my kids were gonna be cool."