Amy Austria opens up on drug addiction, being drug-free for 30 years now

Amy Austria. Image: screengrab from YouTube/Amy Ventura

Amy Austria opened up on her battle with drug use in the past, and how she was able to overcome her addiction through faith.

Austria recounted how her drug addiction started by using “shake,” a drug supposedly used to keep a slim figure, as per her latest vlog in her YouTube channel yesterday, April 5. She then turned to marijuana after experiencing unwanted side effects, and eventually tried methamphetamine, commonly known as “shabu.”

“Nag-try ako ng ibang drugs out of curiosity dahil alam kong kaya kong itigil, at totoo naman. ‘Pag tinikman ko lang, ‘Ay, ayoko na  ‘yan,’ pero nung 1986, nauso ‘yung shabu,” she said. “Ito ang pinaka-deceiving sa lahat.”

(I tried different drugs out of curiosity because I knew that I can stop it whenever I want, and that’s true. Once I tasted it [and not like it, I’d say], “Oh I don’t want that,” but in 1986, methamphetamine became a trend. It was the most deceiving among them all.)

The veteran actress found herself alert and productive while using the substance. After a few months, she decided to stop but the withdrawal side effects made it hard for her. She recalled having to use drugs again to keep herself from sleeping and eating too much.

“Six years gano’n ang buhay ko. I’ve been trying to stop, gusto kong itigil pero ang nangyayari bibili nanaman ako. Paulit-ulit na pagsubok pero hindi ko magawa,” she stated. “Adik ako. Lulong ako.”

(My life went like that for six years. I’ve been trying to stop, I wanted to stop but I just bought drugs again. I tried so many times but I really can’t do it. I was an addict. I was deep in drugs.)

Austria joined a retreat in 1990 in an effort to help herself but it did not work at first. She then joined another one in 1992 when her drug use got worse, after she lost a loved one. The actress even brought “shabu” during the retreat to keep herself attentive.

Austria recalled begging God while undergoing a prayer confession, which she regarded as what redeemed her from the addiction. She also remembered going home after the retreat without experiencing any withdrawal symptoms.

“That was 1992, 2022 na ngayon. Simula noon, hanggang ngayon, no more drugs,” Austria added. (That was 1992 and it’s already 2022 now. Since then, no more drugs.)

Although she admitted that she used to experienced drug cravings, Austria stressed that she was able to resist it with the help of her faith. JB

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