One more drink will kill me – I’m an addict and I’ll have cravings forever, says James ‘Arg’ Argent after ‘bad relapse’
TOWIE star James Argent has revealed one more alcoholic drink could kill him after he suffered a “bad relapse” and an ambulance was called to his home.
The popular reality star, 34, admits he fell off the wagon two weeks ago despite being clean and sober for two years.
Arg broke his silence for the first time since we revealed paramedics rushed to save him, claiming he is full of regret for putting his life in danger and vowed it will NEVER happen again.
Speaking from his home in Woodford Green, Essex, the TV favourite said: “I had a very bad relapse after having some cravings for a while, but instead of ringing my therapist I had a drink for the first time in two years.
“Addicts always say one drink is never enough - if it was, I wouldn’t be an addict - but unfortunately it just escalated from there.
“I went to a comedy night with some friends in Bethnal Green, London - it was great fun, everyone was laughing, drinking and having a good time. I was having cravings again and when we went onto the afterparty in Essex I bought a round of drinks for my friends - unfortunately I gave in to temptation and had that first drink...
“After that, I can’t get into the specifics of what I did, but that’s where it all started and I ended up at home having an awful relapse - I’d been clean and sober for such a long time, it hit me like a ton of bricks as my body and mind hadn’t been used to it for so long.
“My friends were shocked and worried about me - I wasn’t myself mentally or physically and they weren’t used to seeing me like that - it was a very scary and upsetting experience for everyone around me and it became vital that an ambulance was called.”
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After taking tests, paramedics agreed it was safe for Arg to stay at home to recover where he remained for two days to sleep it off.
The Sun broke the news of Arg’s latest ambulance dash last Friday, with sources telling us: "James has been doing so well, but the drastic change to his lifestyle has had pressures of its own and can be tough.”
Paramedics visited his home twice before in 2019 after he overdosed and went missing for 48 hours.
The 34 year-old admits that his cravings for booze became worse since dramatically losing 14 stone after gastric sleeve surgery in April - after looking and feeling better than ever, Arg mistakenly believed he was “fully recovered and better.”
He ballooned to 26st 13lb after bingeing on junk food during the pandemic and had a £10,000 gastric sleeve operation after doctors warned him “lose weight or die.”
Arg admitted he sought comfort in calorific treats such as Indian takeaways, fried chicken and pie and mash in lockdown, after swapping one vice for another. And tragically after his gastric surgery, he did it again.
I’d been clean and sober for such a long time, it hit me like a ton of bricks
James Argent
Arg explains: “Before my big operation in April, which was the best thing I've ever done, I would substitute booze and drugs for food - but now my portion control is managed due to the gastric sleeve, I can’t turn to food anymore.
“My problem is that I have cravings for alcohol and that is the gateway to other things like drugs - they say a craving lasts 15 minutes so you should ring a friend or your sponsor and then the craving will go away, but I got what they call a “stinking thinking” and thought things would be different now.
“I stopped attending my alcohol and drug addiction therapy and counselling sessions and I truly forgot how bad things were in the past.
“I thought I was cured and told myself that I can be in control and manage it - but I can’t - I’m an addict and I can’t just go to rehab, come back and be cured, it’s something that I will have to deal with for the rest of my life and that will be in my life forever.
“It’s been almost two weeks since I relapsed and I still don’t feel 100% - I’m anxious, tired, scared and worried but I’m putting the work in and doing everything I possibly can. I wish I hadn’t had that drink but it’s another lesson learned - and relapse is part of recovery.”
Arg is now prioritising his recovery by attending a walk-in rehab centre near his home six days a week and is eager to prove to his loved ones that he is serious about it.
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Explaining why he will never relapse again, Arg says: “It’s perfect for me - instead of fleeing abroad for a few months like I used to, I sign in at 9am six days a week and have group meetings and therapy until 1pm. Then at 4pm I go to a cocaine and alcohol anonymous meeting and then I go home and watch Netflix or practice my bass guitar.
“It means I’m living at home and leading a normal life with routine and structure while I’m in recovery and not escaping reality - my friends and family are so proud of me that instead of letting things escalate after a blip I have been able to recognise what’s happened and stopped it.
“It was horrible and a hard and tough lesson but I’m proud of myself too - my family have been very upset with me, there’s been anger and frustration towards me and a lot of worry.
“I can promise the world to everyone and say I’m going to do this and that but noone wants to hear it, so I need to prove to them I am doing it by my actions - now I’m just going to worry about myself, work hard and hopefully people will recognise I’m taking it very seriously.
“I can glamorise partying but in reality it’s never going to be fun for me as I’m an addict so it’ll never be just one or two drinks - that will lead me to hospital or death.
“If I have a drink it affects my friends, family, career, relationships, I can’t function the next day, I let people down, I am selfish and I lie to people - there are so many consequences if I just have one drink.
“I have to put my recovery before everything - my band, boxing, swimming, love life. It’s my priority because the reality is it’s life or death - my life is on the line, you know? Recovery first and everything else will fall into place.”
Arg credits his famous friends Mark Wright, Ferne McCann, Megan McKenna and exes Lydia Bright and Gemma Collins for helping him with his recovery and despite the “blip”, Arg - who is starring in the Real Dirty Dancing (starting Monday on E4 at 9pm) now insists he is back on track and determined to not let it derail the amazing progress he has made recently.
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“I do very well on the real Dirty Dancing so I hope Sun readers will enjoy that and be proud of me. I’ve got my Arg Band gigs and a couple of weddings in the Bahamas and Mykonos coming up - I’m lucky I have so many people who love me and I’ve got so much to look forward to I’m not going to let this hold me back!
“This is the first time in my life that I like the way I look too - I don’t feel ugly anymore - I’m content and happy with my appearance. The only problem now is I’ve lost a little bit too much weight and I need to put on half a stone,” he laughs. “Everyone thinks it’s hilarious, we didn’t think we’d ever be in this situation but it’s one thing or another with me - that’s just me!”
