Nigerian actress and evangelist Tonto Dikeh has opened up about her past struggle with drug addiction. She described that period as a painful time filled with emotional turmoil and self-destruction.
Dikeh also urged young people to stay away from drugs. She said many people judged her actions without understanding the pain she faced at the time.
The actress explained that the chaos people associated with her came from a deeper struggle. She said it reflected the cry of someone battling addiction and emotional pain.
“I was once the chaos people judged. The noise. The mess. The broken decisions. But what many didn’t see was the truth behind it all,” Dikeh said.
She said anger, addiction and self-destructive behaviour hid the pain she could not express. At the time, she desperately wanted relief, peace and someone who could understand her struggle.
Dikeh explained that drugs became an escape from that pain. However, she stressed that addiction did not define her identity.
“Drugs weren’t the problem; they were the symptom. Addiction wasn’t my identity; it was my escape from pain I didn’t know how to name,” she said.
The actress credited God with helping her overcome the struggle and discover a new sense of purpose.
“When people saw chaos, Heaven saw a wounded soul worth rescuing. When I was written off, God was writing a comeback,” she added.
Dikeh urged people to show compassion to those battling addiction. She said society should look beyond their actions and recognise the person struggling behind them.
She also stressed that addiction does not have to determine a person’s future. In her view, people can recover and rebuild their lives despite past struggles.
“So hate the drugs. Hate the addiction. But never stop praying for the person trapped inside it,” she said.
Dikeh described her own journey as proof that healing and a fresh start remain possible.
“I am living proof that behind the chaos can be a destiny waiting for healing. And if God could pull me out, restore me, and give me a voice, then no soul is too far gone,” she said.
