Richie Sambora struggles to stay sober

Musician Richie Sambora, who had reportedly been to rehab thrice in the past, says he struggles all the time to stay sober.

The former Bon Jovi rocker opened up about his addiction to drugs and alcohol before performing his new song, "Lighthouse", at an anti-drug forum at the Pine Belt Arena, Toms River, New Jersey, reports contactmusic.com.

"For me, it was not only a mental thing, but a physical thing. And it's also ongoing -- I still work at it all the time. I don't think that you stop," said Sambora.

The 54-year-old feels very lucky to be alive, since many of the men he has performed with in the past have died of heroin overdose.

"The music business has its pitfalls, and I was lucky enough to survive, and be alive. Obviously I did a lot of other stuff, and now I'm cleared up and all is good," said the guitarist.