A new film called "Russell Brand: From Addiction to Recovery" shows actual footage of Russell smoking heroin in a hotel room when he was in his 20s.

In the film, Russell watches that old footage and admits he's JEALOUS of his younger self. He says, "It doesn't make a difference to me. The money, the fame, the power, the sex, the women . . . none of it. I'd rather be a drug addict."

Russell is 37 now, and he's been clean for a decade. And he fully admits that drug addiction is a serious disease . . . and one that he's glad he's recovering from.

He says, "Heroin is a greedy drug, it'll take everything. First it'll take your money. Then it'll take your friends, your family, your car, your house. Then it's going to take bits of your body. In the end I used to be scoring with people that had eyes missing, limbs missing."

"You'll take it until it takes your life. It'll take everything until the last thing and you'll gladly give it that rather than give up the drugs."