01/03/2026
Last night on The Tommy Tiernan Show, Luke Loughlin spoke openly about his journey through addiction — from alcohol and gambling to co***ne — and the emotional pain that fuelled it.
He made an important point: addiction doesn’t happen overnight. His mum watched him struggle for years — getting into trouble repeatedly, making harmful choices, and pushing away support before he finally got help. That escalation, and the fear and heartbreak families feel when someone they love is in danger, is all too common.
Luke spoke about how difficult it was for his mother to set boundaries and use tough love — not because she didn’t care, but because she had already seen him hurt himself, Watching someone spiral, getting into, risky situations or self-destructive behaviours, is deeply painful for families — and yet support, connection, and honest help are what finally opened the door to change.
The hardest part is accepting the help.