A 43-year-old woman has revealed her secret compulsion to drink paint on the season premiere of TLC’s My Strange Addiction.
Heather Beal, an Alabama mother of two, admits that she has guzzled close to three gallons since she first started the practice three years ago.
‘As it’s going down your throat it feels very nice and warm, almost like a thicker version of warm milk,’ she says. ‘But obviously, it’s got that very strong chemical taste, which is perfect to me.’ 
Secret habit: Heather Beal has tried paint in all forms to satisfy her cravings
Ms Beal says that she prefers paint in marker form, and goes to the hardware store to feed her habit. Every day she pries the cap off one paint marker and drinks the contents.
‘I drink paint from markers because I have looked for other paint both in quart or gallon form, and I haven’t found one that satisfies my desire,’ she explains.
Ms Beal demonstrates how she shakes the paint marker pen up to get the ideal consistency – the sticks it in her mouth.
In another scene, her eye twitches as she downs a shot of white paint in front of the camera.
Mom addicted to drinking paint
Taking a shot: She estimates that she has consumed around three gallons of paint since her habit started three years ago
Secret shame: Ms Beal says that she never drinks paint in front of her children
‘I drink paint from markers because I have looked for other paints, both in quart or gallon form, and haven’t found any that satisfy my desire,’ she explains.
She says that her bizarre habit began after her mother died, and that until now no one has seen her drink paint – especially not her children.
Most inhalants depress the central nervous system in a similar way to alcohol, but inhalant abuse can also cause relaxation, euphoria, slurred speech, hallucinations, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, users of inhalants may lose the ability to walk, talk or think.
Constant cravings: The mom of two says that she is addicted to paint in all forms, from gallons to markers
Shaking it up: Ms Beal demonstrates how she is able to eat the residue on the surface of the paint marker
