Swollen Members rapper Madchild says drug addiction nearly killed him

In the wake of several suspected fentanyl-related deaths in Metro Vancouver,Swollen Members rapperMadchildis sharing his story of addiction and recovery, in the hopes it will prevent others from taking lethal drugs.

The rapper, who is originally from Vancouver,told CBC News he lost more than $3 million and nearly died because ofhis addiction to painkillers. The addiction began during a show in Kelowna in 2006, he said.

Madchild said his addiction toPercocet, a combination ofacetaminophen and Oxycodone, started off "innocent."

"When you mix it with beer, it's a very euphoric feelingand Ithought Ihad found the answer something that was harmless but made me feel incredible," he said.

But he went from taking painkillers a few times a week to as many as 20-80 a day, eventually costing him more than $3 million dollars over the course of four years.

"No happy ending to trying painkillers"

"It seemed harmless and beats any other type of feeling at first," he said. "Butthere's no happy ending to trying painkillers."

"Inot onlylost everything, Igot into debt. Without my family's help Iwouldn't be here today."

He said the recent spate of overdoses linked to Fentanyl, which police say is often mixed with recreational street drugs because it's cheap and accessible, makes him angry.

"It's tragic....there's no way to tell if it's real or not.The things that were called drugs back in the day are no longer that drug," he said.

"Putting that pill in your mouth is like gambling like taking poison it'sgoing to kill you."

Sober for four years

Madchild, who now lives in West Hollywood,said he has been sober for four years now and feels 'grateful.'

"Ihad to walk away from 99% of the people Iwas hanging out with to save my own life," he said.

"Everyday is a gift."