‘I was days from death’: Michelle Heaton details drug and alcohol addiction that led to rehab stint
‘I was days from death’: Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton details drug and alcohol addiction that led to her rehab stint as she reveals she entered The Priory after ‘intervention led by Katie Price’
- Michelle, 41, was told by a therapist at The Priory that she ‘might not make it’
- The singer told how an intervention by Katie Price resulted in her checking in
- Michelle revealed she had been drinking two bottles of wine and a bottle of vodka ‘virtually every day since 2018’
- Michelle also told how she embarked on a ‘three day coke binge’ that saw her consuming a gram of cocaine a night
- If you’re having trouble finding the right sort of help, call the Frank drugs helpline on 0300 123 6600. They can talk you through all your options
Michelle Heaton has frankly discussed the cocaine and alcohol addiction that led to her recent stint in The Priory.
Revealing that she was ‘days from death’ when she entered the rehab facility earlier this year, Michelle, 41, was told by a therapist that she ‘might not make it’.
The former Liberty X star also told how an intervention led by Katie Price resulted in her checking herself into the facility.
Brave: Michelle Heaton, 41, has frankly discussed the drug and alcohol addiction that led to her recent stint in The Priory, revealing: ‘I was days from death’
Speaking to The Sun just 36 hours after leaving rehab, Michelle revealed: ‘What I was doing was a suicide mission. I was crying out for help when I couldn’t actually ask for help. When you’re an addict, it feels like there’s no way out.’
Telling the paper that she had been drinking two bottles of wine and a bottle of vodka ‘virtually every day since 2018’, Michelle added: ‘Last September I hit rock bottom with the alcohol and had excruciating pains. My doctor could feel my liver sticking out because I was so thin.’
Michelle also told how she embarked on a ‘three day coke binge’ that saw her consuming a gram of cocaine a night alongside alcohol.
Discussing her friends’ intervention, she said: ‘I was shaking and I was crying. I was intoxicated. Katie Price said, “Right, you’re going to The Priory”.’
Katie has previously been a patient at The Priory as she battled her own demons.
Intervention: Discussing her friends’ intervention, she said: ‘I was shaking and I was crying. I was intoxicated. Katie Price said, “Right, you’re going to The Priory”.’
The doting mother was told by Priory staff that the level of the enzyme GGT – which indicates liver damage – in her blood was 2,5000 compared to a healthy person’s 30.
She also shared that while in The Priory she sent Katie, 43, a text thanking her for saving her life.
It was confirmed last month that Michelle was receiving treatment in rehab after reportedly turning to alcohol during lockdown.
Loving family: Michelle’s husband Hugh Hanley praised his wife’s ‘strength’ as he broke his silence after it was revealed she is receiving treatment in rehab in April
Supportive: Sharing a touching tribute to Michelle on Instagram, Hugh said ‘you are doing your family proud’ and shared a candid black-and-white snap of her
It was reported that Michelle was struggling with the side effects after undergoing a hysterectomy in 2012 and a double mastectomy in 2015, to reduce her risk of cancer, as well as experiencing an early menopause.
A spokesperson for Michelle confirmed to MailOnline at the time that Michelle was at a rehabilitation facility and has the support of her family and friends.
Michelle’s husband Hugh Hanley spoke out in April and praised his wife’s ‘strength’.
Sharing a touching tribute to Michelle on Instagram, Hugh said ‘you are doing your family proud’ and shared a candid black-and-white snap of the former Liberty X singer sitting topless on a beach.
Hugh (pictured) wrote: ‘No one should ever suffer in silence but it takes real strength to speak up and do something about it’
His full message read: ‘No one should ever suffer in silence but it takes real strength to speak up and do something about it … @wonderwomanshel you are doing your family proud.’
A source told The Sun at the time: ‘She realised she needed to get help when she’d increasingly turned to alcohol as a crutch as she couldn’t cope with the effects of her operations.
‘Michelle was left feeling like she had lost so much of what made her a woman and when she went into early menopause that brought with it a whole other collection of problems.
‘She was just about coping when lockdown hit last year, but the effect of being at home and being unable to distract herself, saw her hit rock bottom.’
In 2012 the mother of two discovered she was carrying the BRCA2 gene, which meant that without surgery she had an 80 to 85 per cent risk of developing breast cancer and a 30 to 40 per cent risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Following the surgery she also went through the early menopause aged 35.
She has appeared on television on several occasions to discuss her experience with being diagnosed with the mutated gene.
Sad: In 2012 Michelle discovered she was carrying the BRCA2 gene, which meant that without surgery she had an 80 to 85 per cent risk of developing breast cancer
In 2013 Michelle told how she had to have surgery work out if she needed a pacemaker, after diet pills she was once addicted to left her with a terrifying cardiac condition.
For six years, the singer said she was addicted to slimming pills, popping tablets every day to suppress her appetite and maintain her weight.
She only stopped when the situation got so dire she was forced into hospital after suffering heart problems.
Michelle suffered with the unexplained arrhythmia for seven years, until in 2011 she was told she may suffer from atrial fibrillation.
Michelle married Hugh in the Bahamas in July 2010, who she started dating in 2008.
They couple share two children, Aaron Jay, seven, and Faith, nine.
Family: Michelle married her husband Hugh in the Bahamas in July 2010, who she started dating in 2008
