Zoe Henry talks to Soaplife about Rhona's fight with her addiction in Emmerdale - a fight she’s losing and a fight that could cost her her life!
Rhona Goskirk has been popping pills like a child eats Smarties and her habit finally takes a terrible toll… "The addiction has grown and her need for drugs has got bigger with it. It’s turned into a monster, but all Rhona wants is to get hold of the drugs and keep taking them," Zoe explains to Soaplife.
And then she vomits blood…
"Yes. Rhona gets some tablets from a dodgy dealer called Gary - she’s so desperate she’ll take anything."
She must be terrified!
"She is and thankfully Vanessa is with her. At one point, she thinks she might die, but sadly, once the need for drugs kicks in, any sense goes out the window."
She ends up in hospital - do the doctors realise she’s addicted to drugs?
"Yes because she has the classic symptoms. They ask Rhona if she intended to take an overdose and she tells them to leave her alone and discharges herself, thinking that she can cope on her own, even though she’s told she’ll end up dead if she carries on doing what she’s doing."
Does Paddy hear this?
"No - he doesn’t even know she’s been to the hospital because she lies to him and says she has gone to her mum’s. But Paddy calls Rhona’s mother and finds out that she isn’t there."
How does she get out of that one?
"She cries and apologises and tells him that she needs space. She turns it into something that’s about their marriage, which isn’t fair on him."
And poor Paddy books a holiday to try and repair their marriage!
"Rhona’s horrified. The last time they went away, she got hammered on wine and insulted everyone. Vanessa won’t be there, so how will she get the drugs she needs? The idea of going away is horrendous."
And then Vanessa announces that she’s leaving the village…
"Yes and Rhona is distraught. Vanessa’s the only one who knows what Rhona’s going through and, of course, she’s giving Rhona drugs."
Does Vanessa leave?
"No, because Rhona manipulates her into staying. She puts her marriage in jeopardy to keep Vanessa onside and almost chooses her over Paddy."
What?! Why?
"Paddy tells Rhona it’s over because she has hurt him so much and Vanessa feels like the chosen one because Rhona tells her she loves her to get what she needs, but it’s all lies."
Where’s this going to end?
"What Rhona’s doing could kill her. I hope she can come back from this, but something has got to give. There will be consequences - whether it’s her job, her marriage or her friendship, somehow this will cost her dearly."
