Tonto Dikeh Recalls Struggle With Addiction During Drug Abuse Campaig

Actress Tonto Dikeh has revealed more about her past struggle with addiction, using her personal experience to warn against drug abuse and encourage compassion for those battling substance dependence.

In a detailed social media post, the Nollywood star described addiction as one of the darkest chapters of her life and urged people struggling with drugs to seek help rather than remain trapped in silence.

Dikeh said substances never truly removed the pain she was experiencing. Instead, she explained, addiction gradually affected her life while hiding the deeper emotional problems she was unable to express.

“Say no to drugs. I’ve been down this dark road, and I can tell you firsthand: substances don’t make the pain go away,” she wrote.

Reflecting on how people perceived her during that period, Dikeh said she was once seen as a person defined by chaos, anger and poor decisions.

However, she noted that her behaviour was only part of a deeper struggle.

Read Also: DHQ Wants MNJTF Restructured to Respond to Emerging Security Threats

According to the actress, behind the addiction and self-destructive behaviour was someone desperately seeking relief and hoping that somebody would understand her pain.

“I wasn’t lost because I loved the darkness. I was lost because I was hurting,” she stated.

Dikeh further explained that addiction should not always be viewed as the fundamental problem because, in many cases, it could be an indication of unresolved emotional pain.

She described drugs as a symptom and addiction as an escape from pain she did not know how to identify or communicate.

“Addiction wasn’t my identity, it was my escape from pain I didn’t know how to name,” she said.

The actress also spoke about her faith, saying she believed God remained present during her darkest period and ultimately helped her find a path to restoration.

Dikeh therefore appealed to the public to stop condemning people struggling with addiction.

She urged families, friends and members of society to support such individuals and continue praying for them rather than treating them as hopeless cases.

She said her own recovery demonstrated that people can overcome addiction and rediscover their purpose.

“Hate the drugs. Hate the addiction. But never stop praying for the person trapped inside it,” she wrote.

Dikeh ended her message by reminding the public that compassion and intervention could help save someone battling addiction.