Michelle Heaton has opened up about her battle with addiction in an eye-opening post.
The former singer wanted to raise awareness about the disease after the English Government
announced plans to tackle addiction.
"Tackling the suppliers and helping those in addictions is amazing."
She said she is "so pleased" about the extra treatment places and said they are sorely needed.
"I’ll be honest - I didn’t have the money to get help, friends, and family lent me that and I possibly wouldn’t be here now had they not as I needed the treatment within days."
The mum said this disease does not discriminate.
"It affects people in poverty and people with money. Once an addict we will stop at nothing to get the next hit, fix, high Whatever that may be."
"It’s a disease of the mind and the body," Heaton wrote.
"We need to also concentrate on STOPPING it before it grips us.
She stressed that this is not a middle-class problem, "it’s a you and me problem".
"Punishment in itself is not an answer as it just ignores where and how to tackle it before it begins!
She said what people need are supports, education, and helplines.
"Michelle Heaton, age 42, no bad upbringing didn’t grow up in poverty & certainly no middle-class issues and never set out to be an addict. I never knew what an addict was until I almost died.
"Information, the meetings, and the 12 step program got me sober! And guess what? It’s free! My passion now is giving back and helping others get sober and clean."
Opening up about such a personal trauma takes a lot of strength, but there's no doubt many people will seek support after reading Michelle's words.
