James Argent opened up about his cocaine addiction hell in an emotional interview on ITV’s This Morning today.
The TOWIE star explained how Gemma Collins helped him during the worst points of his cocaine addiction, as she refused to keep his drug use a secret and enable him.
The reality star, fondly known as Arg, spoke to Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford on This Morning via video link from his home in Essex.
He spoke of his relationship with Diva Forever babe Gemma, saying: “I really feel for her because she’s had to go through so much.
“When I was deep in my addiction I would hate Gemma because I’d be like, ‘Why are you telling my family? Why are you telling bosses? You’re going to ruin my career.’
James Argent said he ‘hated’ Gemma Collins during the depths of his addiction (Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
“But she refused to lie for me, she would never cover up, she’d never want to enable me to continue my addiction.
“At the time, I hated her. I wanted to be left alone to get on with it.”
He added: “She gave me some tough love and was hard on me thank God she was. If it wasn’t for her calling the ambulances to my house, God knows what could’ve happened.”
Arg credits his friends and family for helping him get through (Image: ITV)
The singer explained that his best friend Mark Wright was also a massive help in getting him sorted.
He explained: “[Mark] was making phone calls to me begging me to go to rehab, but I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to stop.”
However after Arg spent Christmas alone, forced to order a takeaway kebab as he had isolated himself through his addiction, he decided enough was enough.
The star said: “It wasn’t until Boxing Day, I rang up Mark and said, ‘I can’t do this any more.’
Arg spoke to Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes on This Morning (Image: ITV)
“Every time you relapse they get worse and worse and over December it was the first time I thought, ‘Wow, I’m close to death.’
“I knew if I didn’t get myself out I could’ve potentially died.”
Speaking of his experience using drugs, Arg said: “It was never rock and roll, glamorous, fun, women.
“It’s always extremely lonely, isolated, me having awful paranoia, psychosis, shivering, shaking, blood coming down my nose, sweating.
“It’s a horrific place.”
Arg explained that Mark, and his cousin Elliott Wright, sorted him out with rehab centres.
He is still attending meetings – albeit virtual at the moment – and keeping strong in lockdown.
Arg credits his family and close friends, also including the likes of Joey Essex and Ferne McCann, as big parts of his continued recovery.
This Morning airs weekdays at 10.30am on ITV
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
