James Argent reveals cocaine addiction had him suffering two overdoses

Towie star James Argent has revealed the extent of his cocaine addiction, as he recalled suffering two overdoses that saw his worried family fear he was dead, and on/off girlfriend Gemma Collins call in paramedics.

Arg is now speaking out, after last year reports emerged alleging he was ‘rushed to hospital’ over fears he had ‘suffered a drug overdose’. It had earlier been claimed that concerned pals called an ambulance after he had been ‘missing’ for 48 hours.

After hitting rock bottom, the reality star, 32, has now said he locked himself in his room for three days to take the drug ‘on his own in the pitch black’.

Speaking to The Sun, he recounted: ‘I was at rock bottom. My heart was beating out of my chest, my nose was bleeding, I was shaking and my breathing was terrible.

‘My family were banging on the door screaming, “Open up” but I wasn’t answering the door to anyone. They feared I’d overdosed and was dead in the house.’

He added: ‘Gemma called the ambulance and the police came too and all of a sudden they put my door through. The paramedics did checks on me and I remember being so scared because I had so much paranoia and psychosis.’

Two months later, as Arg celebrated his birthday, he pledged he wouldn’t use drugs again – but suffered another overdose.

Locking himself in his room once more, Arg – who insisted his drug-taking ‘wasn’t glamorous or rock and roll’ at all – said his friends and family were banging on his door, after he’d turned off his phone.

He said after Gemma once-again called emergency services, they stated he had ‘done so much’ his heart was ‘f***ed’ and he could die.

Arg – who said he wanted to ‘own’ his past struggles ‘the way that people like Davina McCall, Russell Brand and Robbie Williams have’ – said he was put on a drip, while pals took his phone so he ‘didn’t call his dealers’.

Spending Christmas Day on his own eating a kebab was ultimately the catalyst to get clean, with Arg then calling best mate Mark Wright to help.

‘I remember ringing up Mark on Boxing Day saying, “I’m ready, can you help me?” Arg recalled. ‘Mark got in contact with the owners of this boot camp in Thailand who agreed that I could travel there on New Year’s Eve.’

After 10 weeks he returned to London and regularly visits a local out-patient facility to maintain his sobriety.

Saying he wanted to get the ‘weight off his shoulders’, Arg added it was an ‘ambition’ of his to ‘help others and save lives’.

Worried about drugs?

Frank offers confidential advice about drugs and addiction (email frank@talktofrank.com, message 82111 or call 0300 123 6600) or the NHS has information about getting help.

Adfam has local groups for families affected by drugs and alcohol and DrugFam offers phone and email support to people affected by other people's drug or alcohol misuse.