Ben Affleck Opens Up About 'Lifelong' Battle with Alcohol Addiction: 'It's Part of My Life'

Ben Affleck's struggle with addiction was the topic of the morning "Today."

While appearing on the morning how to promote his new Netflix film "Triple Frontier," he explained he doesn't mind talking about his struggle with alcoholism because it forever will be a part of his life.

Host Hoda Kotb first applauded Affleck for his honesty, bringing up the actor's Instagram post from October where he spoke about his "struggle," following a 40-day stint in rehab. This was the "Argo" star's third time in treatment, after stints in 2001 and 2017.

"It really touched me," Kotb said of his post. "And you said this, 'Battling any addiction is a lifelong and difficult struggle. Because of that, one is never really in or out of treatment. It is a full-time commitment. I am fighting for myself and my family.' That was such a strong statement ... It is a lifelong battle for you."

"Some people are really uncomfortable, it doesn't bother me to talk about alcoholism," Affleck replied. "Being an alcoholic, it's part of my life. It's something that I deal with. It doesn't have to sort of subsume my whole identity and be everything, but it is something that you know you have to work at."

"I had a problem and I really want to address it," he continued. "I take some pride in that...It is about yourself, your life, your family and people we encounter these kinds of hurdles and we have to deal with them."

Affleck also spoke about his life as a dad. The "Argo" star -- who shares Violet, 13, Seraphina, 10, and Samuel, 7, with ex-wife Jennifer Garner -- said being a father is the number one "focus" of his life.

"I hope I'm a pretty good dad," Affleck said. "I certainly try very hard. I'm lucky, they got a great mom. She helps out a great deal with you know making sure that we co-parent as good a way as possible. Dads are so important to kids and it's our responsibility to be there for them -- to be present, to be mindful, to be attentive, to be part of their lives, to be in it as moms."

"That's really you know the central preoccupation of my life, the focus of my life. It's what I love doing. It's what makes me happy. The rest of the stuff you know follows."

Kotb shared one of Garner's recent Instagram photos, where she dressed up as a character from "How to Train Your Dragon," for their son's birthday. After talking about the funny moment and how their son wasn't quite impressed by his mom's costume, Kotb pointed out how she could tell Affleck still loves his ex-wife by the way he spoke about her.

"Of course. She's wonderful," Affleck said in reply. "Somebody that is the mother of your kids, they're going to be the most important, central person in your life and that's good."

"Triple Frontier" hits Netflix on March 13.

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