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Former Waterloo Road star Richard Mylan opens up over heroin addiction to break stigma

Photo credit: Shed Productions (WR) / Mark Mainz
Photo credit: Shed Productions (WR) / Mark Mainz

Note: The following article contains discussion of drug addiction that some readers may find upsetting.

Former Waterloo Road and The Bill star Richard Mylan has opened up about his 20-year battle with heroin addiction.

Mylan, who played deputy headteacher Simon Lowsley on the popular BBC school drama, said that he's one of a "number of many functioning professional addicts".

"This could be a career-ending interview but I don't care about that anymore," Mylan said in a very opening interview with the BBC.

Photo credit: Shed Productions (WR) / Mark Mainz
Photo credit: Shed Productions (WR) / Mark Mainz

Related: Casualty's Amanda Mealing joins Waterloo Road

The star, who has been in recovery for 10 years, hopes that speaking out reduces the stigma.

"What I care about is challenging our empathy response as a society. There are so many people out there who would never ever come forward because the stigma is so great," he continued.

Mylan, who also starred in BBC Three series Grownups opposite Sheridan Smith, revealed he began taking illegal drugs after suffering from "crippling anxiety" during the beginning of his acting career performing in theatre in London.

"It was the biggest mistake I ever made," recalled the 48-year-old, adding that after "a few drinks", he had "one night of weakness" that started his drug addiction.

10 years ago, Mylan knew his addiction was getting "dangerously worse" and he didn't want to become a statistic – approximately 4,500 people a year die of drug abuse in the UK, with almost half involving the use of an opiate.

Photo credit: Shed Productions (WR) / Alan Peebles - BBC
Photo credit: Shed Productions (WR) / Alan Peebles - BBC

"Ultimately, I'd had enough of that cycle of being dragged under and coming up for air that being dragged under again. You get so beaten down by that process.

"I almost like washed up on a shoreline half dead, thinking I've had enough. I wanted to live and be happy," he added.

Having appeared on many TV shows since the late '90s, including the likes of Coupling and Doctors, Mylan hopes people don't judge him for revealing his 20-year addiction.

"We must challenge stigma because if we have any chance of fellow addicts recovering, we have to alleviate that because it keeps people down," he said.

"Stigma has kept me from talking until now. Being in recovery doesn't define you and each step forward is a step towards who you really are. My recovery felt a journey back to me."


For more on drug addiction and dependency, including information and support, please visit FRANK or Action on Addiction.

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