Jan Angelo Batongbakal

Amy Austria recalls how she overcame her drug addiction in the past: ‘Six years yun’

Article (news)

Peter Andrew Acierto

Push Team

<div><em>Content warning: Mentions of substance abuse.</em></div><div><br/></div><p>Veteran actress Amy Austria opened up about the drug addiction problem she had in the past and how she overcame it through her faith. In a recent interview, she recalled the battle she had with substance abuse. It took six years before she decided enough was enough. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DcD0qKMJ4Ke/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=439&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A225227.20000004768%2C%22ls%22%3A224781.10000002384%2C%22le%22%3A225062.30000001192%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="481" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Amy described each drug she tried in the past and how she ended up getting hooked on shabu (methamphetamine). </p><p>“Nung una, ah parang wala naman okay lang siya. Pero little by little, hindi mo alam na hahanap-hanapin mo na siya. Tapos pag ayaw mo na, tulog ka nang tulog, kain ka na nang kain, tumataba ka na, hindi ka na makabanyo,” she recalled.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/03/19/19/look-amy-austria-ventura-husband-renew-wedding-vows" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>LOOK: Amy Austria-Ventura, husband renew wedding vows<br/></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%">As she tried removing the illegal substance in her system, the veteran actress admitted going through withdrawal to the point that she was unable to do things when she’s not using them. This eventually got her hooked right back to it. </span></div><p>“Ang sakit na ng ulo mo sa kakatulog hanggang sa dumating sa point na almost one year in out, in out, in out. Sabi ko, ayoko na. Papaano to? Pero maski ayaw mo na, dahil nga yung katawan mo hindi ka na makakilos, wala ka nang magawa, bibili ka nanaman,” she said.</p><p>“Pagkabili mo, ayan magagawa mo nanaman–– malilinis mo na ulit ang bahay, magagawa mo na dapat mong gawin, makakapagbanyo ka na. Six years yun. Six years yun na trinitry mong makipaglaban,” she added.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2019/3/17/fresh-scoops/look-amy-austria-husband-mark-20th-anniversary-w-35076" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>LOOK: Amy Austria, husband mark 20th anniversary with renewal of vows<br/></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>It was then when fellow actor Christopher de Leon invited her to a retreat which turned her life around. It gave her a stronger reason to quit and to turn to faith instead. She humbled herself and surrendered to God.</p><p>“But then, nung ininvite ako ni Christopher de Leon na umattend ng Oasis of Love–– doon sa retreat nila–– sumama ako. This time sabi ko, ‘Lord, sa’yo na to. Alam mo naman na six years ko na gustong tanggalin ito. Hindi ko kaya’,” she explained. </p><p>Amy is hopeful that none of the younger generation of actors are using any illegal substances anymore, noting that she hasn’t encountered any in recent projects.</p><p>“Sana naman hindi. Pero wala pa naman ako nakakasama o nakikita na meron ganun problema,” she ended.</p><div><br/></div><div><em>If you or a loved one is in need of help, the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) has trained respondents to properly deal with those in need. Contact the hotline at 0917-899-USAP (8727) / 0917-989-8727. You can also contact Hopeline Philippines at (02) 804-HOPE (4673), 0917 558 HOPE (4673), 2919 (Toll free for Globe, TM)</em></div>