Can a Movie Lead to Addiction?

Federico vividly remembers the day his life took an unexpected turn. He was just a child, around 9 or 10 years old, when he was captivated by the movie Scarface, drawn in by the glamorous portrayal of a drug dealer, which sparked a dangerous curiosity about cocaine. "I was just a kid, but watching that movie made me think that drugs were the key to power, money, and respect," he shared during his appearance on the podcast The Joy of Living in Sobriety, hosted by psychologist Enrique Corral.

On the show, Federico recounted his gripping life story, from his early exposure to the world of drugs to his journey toward recovery. Today, with six years of sobriety, he considers himself a living testament that living without addiction is possible when you have determination and the right support.

Throughout his youth, Federico tried to follow a normal academic path, enrolling in various fields of study, from business administration to industrial engineering and gastronomy, but he never managed to complete any of them. His academic and professional life was continually disrupted by an addiction that silently took control of his life. 

"There was always an excuse to quit everything," he reflected, "but in reality, it was the addiction that kept me from moving forward."

The breaking point came abruptly when Federico was involved in a serious car accident in a stolen vehicle. He recounted, "I remember waking up among the wreckage, in severe pain, and with the certainty that I wouldn't survive." That near-death experience forced him to reflect on the decisions he had made up to that point, but surprisingly, it wasn't enough to steer him away from drugs.

After the accident, a group of high school friends approached him, offering their help. "They didn’t give up on me, even when I had given up on myself," he said with gratitude, adding, "I denied everything, claiming I didn't have a problem, that I could quit whenever I wanted."

But life had other plans. The accident led to time in jail, an experience he describes as a "brutal wake-up call." "Being in that cell made me realize how much I had lost because of my addiction. It wasn’t where I wanted to be, but it was where my decisions had led me," he confessed.

It was during those days of confinement that Federico began to recognize the need for change, realizing that he needed to stop blaming others for his problems and acknowledge that he had made the decisions that led him to that point. Accepting this reality was a crucial step in his recovery process.

Finally, Federico decided to seek help, accepting the intervention of his friends and the support of Misión Zoe. "That was the moment when my life began to change," he said. The therapeutic community provided him with the necessary tools to face his addiction and also taught him the importance of taking responsibility for his life.

Today, Federico celebrates six years of sobriety, a milestone he attributes not only to his determination but to the unwavering support of his family, friends, and his faith in God. "I couldn’t have done it alone. The support network I had was fundamental to my recovery," he said with emotion.

His story is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is always a way out. 

Federico hopes that his experience will inspire others struggling with addiction to seek help and believe that recovery is possible. "If I could climb out of the abyss, anyone can," he concluded.