Tonto Dikeh Reflects on Past Addiction, Urges Compassion for Those Struggling

Nollywood actress and minister Tonto Dikeh has spoken about her past struggle with substance abuse, saying the drugs were an escape from emotional pain she did not know how to express.

In a message shared on social media, Dikeh urged people to reject drug abuse while showing compassion toward individuals battling addiction. She said a person’s destructive behaviour should not automatically be treated as proof that the person is worthless or beyond redemption.

“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 wrote.

‘I Was Hurting’

Dikeh said people often saw the chaos associated with her past but did not understand the emotional pain beneath it.

She explained that her substance use was connected to distress and an inability to properly communicate what she was experiencing.

“When people saw chaos, Heaven saw a wounded soul worth rescuing. When I was written off, God was writing a comeback,” she said.

Her message was not a defence of drug abuse. Instead, she called for a distinction between condemning harmful substances and supporting the person trapped in addiction.

She Credits God for Recovery

Dikeh attributed her recovery to her Christian faith and what she described as divine intervention.

“And yet, God heard the cries I couldn’t articulate,” she wrote.

She said her experience convinced her that people who appear to be beyond help may still recover and rebuild their lives.

“If I could break free and get help, so can you,” she added.

Her account is a personal testimony and should be distinguished from clinical explanations of addiction. Recovery can involve spiritual support, but it may also require medical assessment, counselling, rehabilitation, peer support and family assistance.

‘Never Stop Praying’

Dikeh urged the public not to stigmatise people battling substance abuse.

“So hate the drugs. Hate the addiction. But never stop praying for the person trapped inside it,” she said.

She described herself as living proof that a person’s worst period does not have to define the rest of their life.

Her message may resonate with families dealing with addiction, where repeated relapses, behavioural changes and strained relationships can create anger, fear and hopelessness.

Earlier Revelations

Dikeh has previously spoken publicly about her history with smoking and alcohol.

In a December 2025 testimony at Streams of Joy International Church, she said she began smoking at age 13 and struggled with the habit for 27 years. She also discussed alcohol use and credited prayer and her faith with helping her overcome those habits.legit+1

Those earlier statements were part of her religious testimony. They represent her personal understanding of her recovery and should not be treated as a substitute for evidence-based addiction treatment.

Recovery and Support

Dikeh’s story highlights how addiction can be connected to several underlying issues, including:

• Emotional pain and trauma
• Mental-health difficulties
• Family or social pressures
• Loneliness and isolation
• Peer influence
• Difficulty coping with distress

Simply telling someone to stop using drugs may not be enough. Effective support can include professional addiction treatment, medical care, counselling, rehabilitation programmes, peer-support groups and trusted family members.

Compassion does not mean ignoring harmful behaviour. It means combining accountability with practical assistance and refusing to treat a person as permanently lost.

Bottom Line

Tonto Dikeh has described her past substance abuse as an escape from pain rather than her identity, and she has credited God with helping her recover.

Her message is twofold: people should reject drug abuse, but they should not write off those struggling with addiction. In her words, if God could help her recover, “no soul is too far gone.”

Source: thenationonlineng