From Alcoholic and Drug Addict to Successful Entrepreneur

Written by one of this blog’s partners, Andy Macia.  Find his Bio at the end of this article.

I still remember the first time I ever tried alcohol. It was more than two decades ago, but the memory is as vivid as if it were yesterday. I snuck a bottle of liquor from the kitchen and took it to my room. I opened it and smelled it. The scent was strong and unpleasant, but it didn’t discourage me. I took a deep breath and sipped the clear liquid. I can still feel how it burned my throat and my belly, that memory will stay with me forever.

My name is Andy, and this is the story of how I went from being an alcoholic and drug addict to being a successful business owner.

How It All Began

I was born in Colombia in the 80s, a beautiful South American country, but very violent during that time. My parents decided to move to the United States in order to give me and my siblings a safer childhood and a better future. They gave up everything for us: their home, their family, and their language.

I couldn’t have asked for a better childhood. I was raised in Southern California, in a house filled with love and laughter. I had space to play and run, my parents always taught us the values they were raised with and they worked hard to make sure we always had everything we needed.

Colombians are known all over the world for being big partiers, and my family was no exception. We were always hosting parties at our house or attending gatherings at a friend or a relative’s house. Naturally, these parties usually included alcohol, and I, a very curious child, was always fascinated with the effect it had on adults: it made them happier, more cheerful and less shy.

At one of these parties, when I was 9 years old, I asked my mom to let me have a sip of what she was drinking. She said no and told me that alcohol was not for kids, but that only made me more curious…. So I stole a bottle from the kitchen, and you know what happened next.

I loved the feeling alcohol gave me. I started drinking whenever I had the chance. By the time I became a teenager I had been abusing alcohol for a while, and when I was 14 I started using drugs. First it was only marijuana, but then it escalated to harder drugs.

Even though I consumed pretty much everyday, I was a high functioning addict, so my family didn’t suspect I had a problem. Until I got sentenced to two years of prison for drug related charges.

Jail Time and Healing

By the age of 23, I pretty much felt like my life was over. I spent my days in a prison cell where every hour felt like an eternity. I was feeling hopeless. I took every chance I had to get out of my cell, and that included attending Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. At first it was just a way of spending my time in a place different than my cell, but it became the place where I finally started to heal.

Listening to the inmates’ stories moved my soul and made me feel things I had never felt. I felt empathy, I could relate to them so I understood how they thought and felt. When I started feeling more comfortable I shared my story too, and after I did I felt completely liberated.

These testimonies made me realize that I wasn’t a lost cause after all. I still had time to make things right with my family and build a brand new life. Ultimately, I decided to check myself into a drug and alcohol rehab center after I was released from prison.

Recovery

I spent half a year in rehabilitation, where I learned to forgive myself, I started adopting healthy habits, and was able to reconnect with my family and close friends. But addiction recovery is not easy, and it doesn’t end when you check out of rehab. Addiction is something you will carry with you for the rest of your life, It’s a disease. Even though it gets easier with time, you still have to battle the cravings you get day in and day out.

Starting a new life without drugs and alcohol was hard for me. Soon after finishing my rehab program I got a job selling perfume. I was really good at it and it allowed me to make a decent living without having to depend on anyone. But I became obsessed with my job. I started skipping meals to focus on my work and I neglected my family and friends. It got to the point where I was so consumed by work I was feeling depressed, it almost led me to relapse.

My AA sponsor was my savior at that point. He advised me to quit my job and move back in with my parents. I did, and started attending therapy. Then, when I was feeling a lot better, he encouraged me to enroll in a course at a community college. I chose an HTML course, which I really enjoyed and realized I was very good at.

9 Years Later

Things have never been better for me than they are today. It wasn’t easy getting my life back on track, but once I did, things started looking up and they haven’t stopped since. I moved back to Colombia, where I now co-own a website development company called Red Door Studios with my brother.

As I said before, you are never really cured from your addiction. You still have to fight it everyday, and it takes a lot of willpower, discipline and courage not to relapse. It isn’t always easy, but right now I have a staff of 15 people who depend on me, and that’s my motivation to stay on top of my game at all times.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, remember that everything’s not lost yet. If I could turn my life around, so can you. It won’t be easy, but I assure you it will be worth it.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If you want to share yours as well, please leave a comment below, I would love to read it.

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About the author, Andy Macia:  “Hi, my name is Andy and I’m a drug addict/alcoholic. I was born in Bogota, Colombia, but raised in Southern California. I spend my time helping others with their recovery and growing my business.”