Crystal Meth Addiction: How Fergie Overcame Her Battle

Singer Fergie has experienced huge success, both in her solo career and as the lead singer of the Black Eyed Peas. Prior to her start with the Black Eyed Peas, she was a member of the all-girl group Wild Orchid, and was suffering from an intense addiction to crystal meth.

She has been open about her battle with the drug, and today has revealed the extent of the effects it had on her physical and mental well-being. In an interview with iNews, Fergie spoke candidly of her story.

“I was [suffering from] chemically-induced psychosis and dementia. I was hallucinating on a daily basis,” she said.

Crystal meth is a crystalline drug that is inhaled nasally, with highly addictive properties. The short-term associated effects include a feeling of euphoria, bursts of energy, and hyperactivity. Meth’s potency presents extremely dangerous long-term effects, particularly when an individual becomes addicted.

As with Fergie’s experience, those who abuse crystal meth are prone to hallucinations and episodes of psychosis. A stimulant, meth was originally developed to treat depression and to aid in weight loss, though recreational use peaking in the 1960s.

The 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 1.2 million people admitted to using methamphetamines in the past year. The November 2017 HBO documentary film entitled Meth Storm explores the effects of methamphetamines on the rural population of the United States, most notably in poverty-stricken areas of Arkansas.

With such programming on television and people like Fergie publicly discussing their struggles, the crisis surrounding crystal meth addiction is a topic of national conversation—one that mirrors many other drug crises in the US.

Growing up as a child actor, Fergie faced pressures at an earlier age than most, and fought her addiction to close to a decade as a young woman. While Fergie admitted in 2010 that she still drinks alcohol occasionally, she has been in recovery from her crystal meth addiction for many years.

Recovery, though, did not happen overnight. After making the decision to become sober, Fergie experienced several lasting effects of paranoia and hallucinations.  “It took a year after getting off that drug for the chemicals in my brain to settle so that I stopped seeing things. I’d just be sitting there, seeing a random bee or bunny,” she told iNews.

Today, a GRAMMY-winning, multiplatinum recording artist, she is healthy and enjoying continued success. She has a young son and has recently released a new album. Her comeback is inspirational, and her testimony provides hope for those who may be struggling with similar circumstances.