Katona: 'Cocaine keeps me functioning'

Kerry Katona's troublesome relationship with Mark Croft has left her on the brink of suicide and heavily addicted to cocaine, a friend of the star has claimed.

The former Atomic Kitten has also been binging on amphetamines and anti-depressants to numb her emotional pain, reports the News Of The World.

Katona apparently told friends: "Cocaine is the only way I can function. It's the only way I can get this sorted."

The paper said that the 28-year-old embarks on three-day binges, and took seven grams of cocaine during one session alone.

"Kerry is completely addicted to drugs. It is worse than ever and she is close to the edge. She takes them all day every day. She simply can't cope without her fix," a friend said.

Katona announced that she was divorcing Croft last week after the couple reportedly argued about money.

They have since reconciled, despite Katona's claims that Croft had "bled [her] dry".