Amber Portwood may be headed to prison to serve a 5-year sentence, but that doesn't mean she'll be sitting idly by, counting down the days to freedom. In a "Good Morning America" behind bars interview with Portwood, the "Teen Mom" explains that she hopes to use her incarceration as time to better her life.
"I'm not just going to sit," Portwood said. "I'm going to do substance abuse classes. I'm going to get my GED."
Just last week, the 22-year-old told a judge that she would rather head to prison than complete her court-ordered substance abuse program.
"I felt like I'd rather do my time and get it over with," Portwood explained of her decision to accept a prison sentence.
The MTV star's decision to face the consequences of her actions comes after several years of repeated lows for the young mom. In 2010 she was charged with domestic abuse after MTV film crews captured Portwood repeatedly hitting ex-fiance, Gary Shirley. Portwood was then placed on probation, which she later violated with illegal prescription drug possession charges.
Things got even worse in June 2011, when Portwood was hospitalized after attempting to commit suicide. But that wouldn't be her last attempt. Portwood told "GMA" that she tried to take her own life once again.
"I was very depressed, overwhelmed, bitter at everybody and I didn't feel like that was the life I wanted to live," Portwood said of the suicide attempt.
Portwood told "GMA" that she took roughly 30 Suboxone -- a drug used to treat opioid addiction -- over the course of three days.
"The depression took over," she said. "I'd just take four to five at a time underneath my tongue, and nod out. I had more than addiction problems. I had, you know, mental problems, too."
But Portwood is confident that her 5-year prison sentence will allow her the time to get the help she needs.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article misspelled the drug Suboxone. The correct spelling is reflected above.
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