Shortly after moving into Juneau with his folks, Matt Brown started to mingle with the townspeople, many of whom happened to be avid drinkers. Brown chose to follow suit, but quickly lost control over his habit. His alcohol abuse drove a wedge between him and his father, resulting in, as a source told Radar Online, a "nasty brawl" between the two. The altercation ultimately culminated in Billy threatening to end his son's contract with Alaskan Bush People if he didn't get help.
Facing a serious ultimatum, Brown elected to take some time off from the show and check in to rehab for both of their sakes. A source close to the Brown family told Radar Online in January 2019 that Brown "entered treatment at Betty Ford in Palm Springs area secretly right after New Years" that year. The source added, "He was on a bender and took action to save his life. His family is supportive. They are so happy he is safe and focused on his recovery again."
Brown took to Instagram on January 24, 2019 to confirm that he had sought treatment at Betty Ford, sharing a photo of a Betty Ford Center mug with the caption, "Thank you Mrs Ford."
