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Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Joel Leaver

Kerry Katona reveals she 'doesn't regret' drug use past as it was 'coping mechanism'

Kerry Katona has opened up about taking drugs in the past, with her saying that she used them as a "coping mechanism" and doesn't regret such experiences in her life.

The reality TV star, 42 - who has previously spoken about using cocaine in the past - discussed parts of her life on the latest episode of the Back Then When podcast.

The podcast - which is hosted by Keith Lemon and Lucie Cave - sees celebrity guests discuss the past, with Kerry's episode primarily focusing on her life in the noughties.

This included her being asked about her infamous This Morning interview from 2008 - having been accused of being drunk or on drugs as she was "slurring her words".

Kerry Katona opened up about her past on a podcast (@kerrykatona7/Instagram)
The former singer has been open about her drug abuse (kerrykatona7/Instagram)

Kerry has continually stated that it was due to medication – which she reiterated whilst discussing what happened on the podcast episode, which was released earlier this week.

"Honest to god I've shoved enough s*** up my nose to last me a lifetime. I've drank till the cows come home, but I got diagnosed with an illness called bipolar in 2005," she said.

She said that she had been filming Celebrity Juice the night before her interview on This Morning and that it meant she was later than usual taking her medication.

She also spoke about her infamous This Morning interview from 2008 (ITV)

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She recalled usually taking her medication at 8pm but having it "really late" that night. She added: "I got up early in the morning. It still affected me and my speech was slurred."

Discussing the experience later on the podcast, Kerry said mental health wasn't spoken about or understood at the time of her This Morning interview more than a decade ago.

Kerry reiterated that her 'slurred' speech in the interview had been due to medication (INSTAGRAM)
She was open about having taken drugs at other times in the past though and said she doesn't regret it (Instagram/ @kerrykatona7)

Kerry went on to explain that she'd used drugs in the past as a "coping mechanism". She said: "I've had many good times on drugs. I can't regret it. I've got to accept it and move on from it. It is what it is. There's no mistakes, only lessons.

"I've been through what I've been through for a reason. If I can help one person and use humour as well, whether it's about bipolar, bankruptcy, drugs, divorce [or] domestic abuse."

Episodes of Back Then When with Keith Lemon and Lucie Cave are available through podcast platforms now.

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