Demi Lovato 'grateful to be alive' as she attacks tabloid reports

Demi Lovato has said she is "sober and grateful to be alive" as she asked for "time to heal" during her recovery from a suspected overdose.

The US pop star, 26, was taken ill at her home in Los Angeles in July amid reports she had relapsed in her battle with addiction.

Lovato has been open about her struggles with substance abuse. The star had spent a period in rehab following the latest setback and on Friday tweeted to say "don't believe what you read".

She said: "I love my fans, and hate tabloids. Don't believe what you read. People will literally make up stuff to sell a story. Sickening."

It is unclear which reports she was referring to.

Lovato later added: "If I feel like the world needs to know something, I will tell them MYSELF. Otherwise people stop writing about my recovery, because it's no one's business but mine. I am sober and grateful to be alive and taking care of ME.

"Someday I'll tell the world what exactly happened, why it happened and what my life is like today.. but until I'm ready to share that with people please stop prying and making up shit that you know nothing about. I still need space and time to heal.."

Lovato broke her social media silence following her suspected overdose by posting a picture of her voting in the US midterm elections in November.She said she was "grateful" to be able to vote.

Lovato was a child star and found fame on the TV series Barney & Friends before appearing in the Disney Channel film Camp Rock.

She has since gone on to be a multi-platinum pop star with hits such as Sorry Not Sorry, Skyscraper and Heart Attack