‘One year clean and sober!’ James Argent marks huge milestone after battle with addiction

‘One year clean and sober!’ James Argent marks huge milestone after tackling cocaine addiction following near-fatal overdose

James Argent proudly marked one year of sobriety on Friday. 

The former TOWIE star, 33, turned his life around after he suffered a near-fatal overdose after binging on cocaine on Christmas Day last year.

12 months on, James took to Instagram to celebrate the ‘huge milestone I’m extremely proud of’. 

Congratulations! James Argent proudly marked one year of sobriety on Friday

James shared a picture of two key rings, one which had the number one and the words: ‘We’re here and we’re free’, while the other one said: ‘Hope, faith, courage’.  

He added: ‘1 year clean and sober. A huge milestone I’m extremely proud of’.  

Back in October, James emotionally admitted he ‘hated everything’ about himself and was the ‘biggest’ he had ever been at 23.5 stone at the height of his addiction during an interview on Loose Women.  

Sobriety: James shared a picture of two key rings, one which had the number one and the words: 'We're here and we're free', while the other one said: 'Hope, faith, courage'

Sobriety: James shared a picture of two key rings, one which had the number one and the words: ‘We’re here and we’re free’, while the other one said: ‘Hope, faith, courage’

He also revealed during the height of his past cocaine addiction, he was locking himself in his house, in darkness, for two to three days straight.

The reality star broke down in tears as he listened to his mother discuss his past battle and said the best way he can ‘make amends’ is by ‘staying clean and sober’.   

James said: ‘I was the biggest I’d ever been, 23 and a half stone, I hated everything about myself, all time low.

‘I remember around that period, I was using drugs for like two or three days straight in my house, I had locked myself in and it was pitch black in the house.’ 

James said that former TOWIE star and friend, Mark Wright, booked him into a rehab centre after he said he was ready to receive treatment.

Candid: Back in October, James emotionally admitted that he 'hated everything' about himself and was the 'biggest' he had ever been at 23.5 stone at the height of his addiction

Candid: Back in October, James emotionally admitted that he ‘hated everything’ about himself and was the ‘biggest’ he had ever been at 23.5 stone at the height of his addiction

Supportive: James' best friend Mark Wright, booked him into a rehab centre after he said he was ready to receive treatment following his near-fatal overdose

Supportive: James’ best friend Mark Wright, booked him into a rehab centre after he said he was ready to receive treatment following his near-fatal overdose

Discussing his reason to speak so openly about his past struggle, James said that he believes he will ‘stay clean and sober forever’ after seeking help.

He said: ‘I feel this time, after going to Thailand to work on myself for a few months, this time I really believe in my heart of hearts, this is the time I’m going to say clean and sober forever. 

‘I believe that I felt I could discuss it and be accountable. I felt it was worst kept secret, stories throughout the years… during breaks for TOWIE it was known but I never spoke about it.’

James added it was a ‘big weight’ off his shoulders and he now has a ‘responsibility’ to help others in the same situation. 

James added that he first accepted he had a problem five to six years ago when he first entered rehab.  

Elsewhere during the emotional chat, the reality star’s mother Patricia said she was so ‘proud’ of her son being nine months sober.

She said: ‘Absolutely devastating, I’ve never gone public talking about my son’s addiction it’s a really big thing. I support him, so proud, nine months clean and sober we have to rejoice in this. 

‘I want to help other mothers with children going through this – it’s [the] worst nightmare a mother could face.’

Troubled: James rose to fame on the first series of TOWIE on 2010 with his then girlfriend Lydia Bright and his troubles with addiction was documented over the years (pictured 2011)

Troubled: James rose to fame on the first series of TOWIE on 2010 with his then girlfriend Lydia Bright and his troubles with addiction was documented over the years (pictured 2011)