Former The Biggest Loser contestant Leigh Westren spent $80,000 on his ice addiction.

Former The Biggest Loser contestant Leigh Westren has opened up about his eight month ice addiction that saw his recreational drug use spiral out of control.

At the height of use, the 2011 TBL runner up was taking up to 20 hits of the drug every day and estimates he spent $80,000 feeding his addiction.

“I thought I’d have ice once and that was it, but I loved the high it gave me, so I took it again… and again, and again,” he told New Idea.

“Within a week, I’d gone from trying ice for the first time to becoming an ice addict. I was hanging out in crack houses and doing ice all day with junkies, hanging with dealers.”

Westren said he first tried ice in July last year after a close relative passed away. He finally decided to quit the drug after seeing the impact it was having on his family, who kicked him out when he became addicted.

"The important thing is that I focus on staying off drugs and repairing my relationship with my parents," he told the magazine.

Sharing the news on his Facebook page, the 28 year-old health coach and DJ attributed his recovery to his girlfriend Emily Mills and said he hoped his story would show others it's a problem that can be beaten.

"Thank you for all your support guys. Honestly I could not have done this without Emily," he wrote.

"She was by my side the entire time and she never gave up on me when she probably should have and I can't thank her enough for everything she did and I'll love her for the rest of my life 'cause she is what I needed to walk into my life."

Westren's announcement is a sad and timely reminder of the devastation ice addiction - and any addiction - can have not only on an individual but also family and friends.

According to a 2014 study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, around 2.1 per cent of Australians say they have used methamphetamine or amphetamine drugs including ice, speed, base and prescription amphetamines in the past year.

In terms of crystal methamphetamine, there has been a significant spike in use over the past few years which experts attribute to changing ways of use, increasing purity, and lower prices.

"It's a huge concern because it causes greater psychological and physiological problems in people who use it. The high purity generally allows people to stay awake longer and consume more drugs which can cause many more problems," Associate Professor Peter Miller from Deakin University told ABC Factcheck.

If you or someone you know is suffering from ice addiction, you can get help from any doctor, counsellor or by ringing the government addiction helpline 1800 ICE ADVICE.