Jason Mewes on Marking His 14th Sober Anniversary: 'A Very Big Deal for Me' (Exclusive)

Jason Mewes is celebrating a milestone in his ongoing sobriety journey. 

“I feel good,” the actor told PEOPLE exclusively at the launch event for That '90s Show: Part 2 on June 25. He added that “on July 2, I have 14 years sober. So that's been great. That's been a very big deal for me.”

The actor — known for playing onetime drug dealer Jay in director Kevin Smith’s Clerks and Jay and Silent Bob franchises —  was arrested for heroin in 1999, eventually moving in with childhood friend Smith in an effort to get clean. 

He has said that Smith was a big part in his sobriety, recounting how the director would leverage parts in his films against Mewes’ ongoing struggle with drugs.

"In the past, he would always try to help me like, 'Hey, if you don't want to miss out on this opportunity then you need to either go into rehab or you're going to come stay with me and you're going to stick by my side,' " Mewes said, according to Entertainment Weekly. 

"Right before [Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back] I went and stayed with him in his guest house, and I literally couldn't leave his house or guest house unless I was with him," said Mewes, who added that Smith paid for his treatment.

"All the trouble I had, I had Kevin's support and I know that made a big difference in the outcome of everything."

And now the dad of two — he shares son Lucien, 16 months, and daughter Logan, 9, with wife Jordan Monsanto — is looking forward, especially after celebrating a big birthday.

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Mewes turned 50 on June 12 — a day he says “feels like last week.”

“I turned 50, which blows my mind,” he told PEOPLE, adding that hitting half the half-century mark has made him look at adjusting his diet. 

“It's like, more and more, I'm like, ‘Wow, I can't get away with eating the way I used to,' " said Mewes.

“You know what I mean? I used to be able to eat whatever I want and not gain a pound.”

“But now I look in the mirror and I'm like, 'All right,' " he told PEOPLE. "But otherwise, overall, generally, I feel good.”