After news broke yesterday that rapper Lil Boosie was sentenced to 8 years in prison for trying to smuggle drugs into jail THREE times (while he’s being held on an attempted murder charge of which he goes to trial for in April), he spoke to TMZ and admitted he’s an addict that needs help. Read his statement below.

Marisa Mendez

Lil Boosie tells TMZ … he’s finally realized he’s a hardcore drug addict … and now that he’s been sentenced to prison, he wants to focus on kicking the habit.

Now, Boosie’s lawyer tells us … the rapper is happy with the resolution — because Boosie is confident officials will allow him to participate in a drug rehab program so he can beat his addiction to codeine and other drugs.

Boosie — who’s also facing 1st degree murder charges in an unrelated case — released a statement to TMZ … saying, “Don’t worry about me I am getting help with my drug addiction and I am accepting full responsibility for the choice I made.”

Boosie adds, “I am going to fight the false murder charge till the end. Love you all.”