Coronation Street fans know Sue Devaney as the bubbly actress who plays Debbie Webster on the cobbles.
But behind The actress’ bright eyes and cheerful smile is a woman who has struggled with substance abuse issues in the past.
Sue, 54, previously opened up about her troubles as she discussed her work with homeless people.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, she revealed that she had a taste for some of the “bad things” in life.
The TV star said she called it the “disease of more more more”.
Sue added that she wanted everything in excess and didn’t use substances in moderation, whether that was booze or sugar.
The actress has also previously shared that anxiety and depression have been a problem in the past.
But experiencing mental health issues has made her feel even more passionate about shining a light on people who have found themselves homeless and at rock bottom.
Sue told the publication that she knew what it was like to be an addict and to have low self-esteem and to feel low-self-worth.
“People turn to substance abuse because, initially, it takes the pain away, even if it is just for an hour or so,” she said.
“Then, it stops working and the very thing you used to take the pain away is causing you catastrophic pain.”
Sue – who was first in Corrie in 1984 and rejoined the soap in 2019 – said she was able to get help for her problems so that she could learn how to manage them.
She said: “I am lucky. I got help.”
And she shared that she has learned she is not less of a person because she had the disease of addiction.
Sue has previously said there is a real misunderstanding when it comes to the homeless, because people assume that everyone on the streets drinks and does drugs when that is not the case.
She previously told Metro: “The majority of those people do not choose the life they have. People drink and do drugs, not because they want to, but because they have very little choice.”
“They need help,” she added. “Not judgement.”
Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday on ITV at 7.30pm and 8.30pm
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
