You can typically count on a comedian to make light of just about any situation.

Mark Lundholm and Kurtis Matthews live up to such an expectation, and have made comedic careers by drawing laughs and promoting recovery from alcoholism, drug addiction and substance abuse. The two recovering addicts make up the Addicts Comedy Show pairing, and are scheduled for a show at Laughs Comedy Spot on Tuesday in Kirkland.

“It’s crazy, but every comedian has something they need to talk about,” Matthews said. “Our thing was, ‘Let’s go be honest on stage and put out what the issues are up front and see if people come.”

The idea that began in 2007 has been a success, drawing addicts, those in recovery and what Matthews refers to as “normies.” Matthews doesn’t see addiction as a choice, but rather as a predisposition and disease, and said their goal as a comedy pairing is to bring healing through laughter.

Matthews said he “bottomed out” at the age of 22, following a drunk driving accident. He came from what he called a normal family, but began drinking and using cocaine and marijuana at the age of 15.

“I was lucky that I bottomed out quickly,” he said. “My second drunk driving incident was at 22. I destroyed this car and missed a car full of girls by 15 feet. California told me I couldn’t drink anymore, and I said, ‘okay.’”

Matthews is now 53, and has been clean and sober ever since.

Lundholm’s “bottomed-out” moment was just as harrowing. He was addicted to drugs, and attempted to take his own life but the gun jammed. He later began stand up comedy for inmates and in recovery centers, and met Matthews when the two were in the same show.

“I thought his stuff was spastic and overwrought,” Matthews remembered, “but then he began telling me his story.”

Lundholm eventually started Recovery Comedy, which sparked a new branch in the world of stand up. With Lundholm and Matthews’ histories as addicts and comedians — both have toured nationally and been part of television comedy series — the two are at the forefront of the genre.

Lundholm had appeared on Comedy Central, Showtime, A&E, CBS and NBC. Matthews had a big role in the BBC’s “Find me Funny” and founded the San Francisco Comedy College in 1999, but said none of his accolades and accomplishments were as important as what he did with the addiction tour.

“[Our show is] regular stand up comedy, but we go a little deeper than, ‘Would you look at the traffic,’ or doughnuts,” Matthews said.

“It’s not just laughs. People tell us, ‘Thank you for one more day being sober. Thank you for giving me hope.’”

The tour’s logo represents the struggles Matthews and Lundholm have faced: a skull with beer bottles in an ‘X’ behind it, and needles poking into the spine.

“We’re the pirates of recovery, pretty much,” Matthews said.

The show has something for just about everyone, regardless of background.

“It’s relatable, it’s inspiring, it’s truthful, it’s fun and it’s funny,” Matthews said. “We heal by laughing at ourselves and some of the worst things we’ve done.”

For those who have never wrestled with addiction recovery, Matthews offered a more humorous reason to attend.

“Most of the women in recovery are really hot,” he said. “For all the men, you’d be surrounded by good-looking women.”

The 18-and-over show at Laughs Comedy Spot is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Tickets are $20 in advance online or $30 at the door.