Mary J Blige On Chaka Khan, Houston And Lauryn Hill

Mary J Blige: 'whitney Needs Help'.Singer MARY J BLIGE has urged WHITNEY HOUSTON to face up to her alleged drugs problems, insisting admitting addiction is the first step on the road to recovery.FAMILY AFFAIR star Blige battled her own drug demons in the 1990s and speculates Houston's problems stem from unhappiness.Blige tells UK magazine Attitude, "You have got to want to admit that you have got a problem, first of all. Then start to deal with why that is."It's probably more than just drugs. You get addicted to drugs and alcohol because you want to drown out all the problems in your life."Meanwhile MARY J BLIGE almost drank herself to death thanks to one of her tour sponsors.The R&B star's 1999 tour was sponsored by alcohol giants Seagram - and the boozy singer made sure the company's generous gifts were always knocked back.She says, "We had boxes full of Seagram's gin... Every time I'd come off stage, I would have my people bring me a plastic cup full of gin and grapefruit juice.

"I would guzzle that, go to the club and have wine and whatever every single night after the show, and then wonder why I couldn't sing."

Blige has since given up her heavy-drinking ways after manager/husband KENDU ISAACS demanded she choose between him and the booze.

The R&B star says she counts CHAKA KHAN as her personal therapist, insisting the 1980s singer gives the best advice.

The No More Drama singer, who has battled poverty and drug addiction in the past, claims Khan's emotional support kept her out of therapy.

She tells British gay magazine Attitude, "I've never been to a therapist.

Chaka Khan gave me a good few lessons about giving it all away. She told me to forgive myself, to let whatever will be just be.

"You deal with the stuff you can change and leave the other shit to other people. That advice was good. So Chaka was my therapist."

Blige also talks of how "saddened" by fellow R&B star LAURYN HILL's "fallen" solo career, labelling the FUGEE "a genius".

Hill's debut solo album THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL was a huge hit in 1998 with critics and fans alike, but she failed to capitalise on her success and became a recluse.

Blige tells British gay magazine Attitude, "I'm saddened.

"I think that album is one of the most incredible albums ever made. She's a genius and I do not know what happened to her. This was the birth of a major talent and then it disappeared in a puff of smoke."