Demi Lovato has paid tribute to late actor Philip Seymour Hoffman and lamented the nature of addiction.

The Oscar winning actor died aged 46 on Sunday (February 2) after a suspected drug overdose, with investigators confirming that a substance thought to be heroin was found nearby.

It shocked the entertainment world and Lovato, who has suffered personal problems in the past, took to Twitter to honour Hoffman and use his death to state that addiction and drugs isn't something that can be taken lightly.

She wrote: "I wish more people would lose the stigma and treat addiction as the deadly and serious DISEASE that it is. Drugs are not something to glamorize in pop music or film to portray as harmless recreational fun. It's not cute, "cool" or admire able. It's very rare when people can actually predict their addiction and even then, you never know when too much is going to take their life or take a bad batch of whatever it is their using.

"It's time people start really taking action on changing what we're actually singing/rapping about these days because you never know if you could be glamorizing a certain drug to a first time user or alcoholic who could possibly end up dead because they end up suffering from the same deadly disease so many have already died from.

"This stuff is not something to mess with. Why risk it? Addiction IS a disease. Please spread the word so we can take the taboo out of discussing this illness and raising awareness to people of all ages. RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman.. An INCREDIBLE artist who lost his life to this horrible disease.. May you rest peacefully and in complete serenity now that your pain is gone. God Bless..."

Stars from the film world also have paid tribute to Hoffman, with Kevin Spacey tweeting: "A tragedy to lose as supremely talented an actor as Philip Seymour Hoffman. An unspeakable loss for film, theatre & all who knew him. RIP."

Robert De Niro added: "I'm very, very saddened by the passing of Phil. He was a wonderful actor. This is one of those times where you say: 'This just shouldn't be'."