How my life was being controlled by cocaine

Two years ago, Matthew Coleiro went to a feast in Sliema and, everywhere he turned, he felt surrounded by people he owed money to. That was when he realised he was being controlled by his cocaine addiction – something he refused to accept before. “To me, a drug addict was someone lying unconscious on the ground with punctured arms. I did not associate myself with these people. I felt superior to them and believed I was not an addict and could stop anytime,” the 27-year-old said. But he was wrong. Cocaine ruled his life. He did not step out of the house unless he had a dose in his pocket. “I felt like a car without fuel. I couldn’t do anything without it,” he said. He took between two and six grammes a day and bought the drug for €70 per gramme Coping financially was tough and, although he never stole, he started borrowing money from anyone who would lend him. That was when he realised he needed help and started a one-year rehabilitation programme through Caritas, which he completed successfully. Caritas changed his life and he now helps out by going to the San Blas rehabilitation centre to encourage men there not to give up on overcoming their addiction. Mr Coleiro is studying to...