Usher speaks out on father's drug battle

Rex Features

Usher has spoken out about his late father's battle with cocaine addiction.

The R&B star's dad Usher Raymond III died from liver failure earlier this year following a long struggle with drugs.

"My dad got into drugs at a very young age," Usher told The Mirror. "Alcohol and substance abuse led to his death.

"He had many problems and never addressed it. Unfortunately it went on too long and took his life."

The 'Love In The Club' singer argued that his father's troubled experiences with drugs inspired him to steer away from that lifestyle.

He commented: "I didn't choose not to get into hard drugs - I was just too fearful what drugs might do to me.

"I worried that maybe there was a chemical imbalance that may trigger something, so I couldn't do it.

"My father became a failure to substance abuse and I didn't empathise with him, I didn't have sympathy because I thought it was a cop-out."

Usher is currently number in the UK album chart with his LP Here I Stand.