Stacey Dooley lost one of her childhood friends to heroin before he was 18.
The ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ contestant says she has "seen it all" when it comes to drugs after growing up in Luton surrounded by pals who were hooked on cocaine and heroin, which led to her friend dying because of the Class A drug.
She said: "Drugs were always available when I was growing up in Luton. My pals did loads of gear. Everyone was taking pills and sniffing coke.
"Boys would take pills at school in their lunch break, girlfriends did them after school, a boy I went about with was heavily involved with dealing coke.
"I remember going into his room one day and there were scales out and he was bagging it up.
"I’ve seen people sniff drugs. I’ve seen it all. I’ve seen people take heroin. We lost one of our pals to smack before his eighteenth birthday."
Stacey has never taken drugs, which she says is partly down to her mum Di taping a picture of tragic teen Leah Betts, who died from a drugs overdose aged 18, onto their family fridge to try to put her off such substances.
She recalled: "I thought it was a bit over the top, but maybe it worked because I’ve never ever taken anything.
"I could drink loads when I was younger, and smoke loads of fags, but I’ve never, ever done gear.
"I haven’t smoked weed – nothing. Drugs have always scared me. The thought of feeling totally out of control and not being able to claw myself back is just not for me. I was never teased about it, or peer pressured into taking drugs."
Stacey has gone on to front documentaries about hard-hitting subjects such as whether sex offenders deserve a second chance, the world of digital drug dealers, and domestic abuse – and while she hasn’t ever been "physically attacked" by a guy, she did have one bad relationship experience.
She told Radio Times magazine: "One particular lad … he wasn’t the nicest guy in the world. I had no understanding of what a healthy relationship looks and feels like.
"I mean, I was 14 when I was with him, and I left him when I was 17."
Stacey Dooley lost childhood friend to heroin
