Michelle Heaton has slammed Boris Johnson's latest plans to crack down on middle class drug users in the wake of her own addiction battle.
The former Liberty X singer, who is now seven months into her recovery, has publicly battled her alcohol demons and praises her family and friends for their support and funding her rehab.
But the star, who last night shared a string of binge-fuelled photos to her Instagram, said she fears the government's plans to tackle addiction with harsher punishments will not stop 'the real addicts'.
In a passionate post on Instagram she penned: "This disease does NOT discriminate. It affects people in poverty and people with money. Once an addict we will stop at NOTHING to get the next hit, fix, high! Whatever that may be.
"Harsher punishments will unfortunately not stop us real addicts it will drive us to be more manipulative in our addictions! It’s a disease of the mind and the body."
Her post, which included one image of the star passed-out from drink, came just hours after Boris Johnson warned middle class drug users he will not sit 'idly by' and let them fund crime as he unveiled a £300million drugs blitz.
And in a frank admission, Michelle she said she could have died if it she wasn't for having support and finance to fund her rehab.
The mum-of-two added: ''I’ll be honest - I didn’t have the money to get help, friends and family lent me that and I possibly wouldn’t be here now had they not as I needed the treatment within days."
She urged for early drug education in schools and more support helplines adding: "We need to also concentrate on STOPPING it before it grips us..."
The 42-year-old appeared to signed off the post 'from a grateful recovered addict' before continuing: ''I never knew what an addict was until I almost died. Had you given me a warning or called me up and fined me when I was in the madness I wouldn’t have stopped.''
Michelle, also previously praised her nine year old daughter, Faith, who is supportive of how far she's come and now even pulls her away from the wine aisle in the supermarket.
She describes her daughter as he "biggest cheerleader" and "biggest bodyguard".
The singer maintains her sobriety by going to Alcoholic Anonymous sessions and following its 12 steps programme - and by attending drug counselling sessions.
