Singer Fabrizio Faniello is aware he has taken on a “big responsibility” after he decided to speak up about his drug addiction to encourage others to seek help.
“Now that I have spoken up I need to be more aware not to fall back [into the habit].
“But I think this will keep me more aware and more focused. I hope people will seek help and understand that it’s never too late,” the 33-year-old said.
“I’m not only talking about people who have addictions, but even those who have personal problems. It’s important to be aware. It should be no taboo to go to a psychologist to seek help,” he adds.
Since I was not ashamed to make a fool of myself on the road, I have no reason to be ashamed now that I’m doing something about it
Fabrizio spoke up about his drug problem during the television programme Xarabank on Friday evening where he admitted he was attending a Caritas rehabilitation programme.
When, minutes later, the news spread through online media he was immediately inundated with messages of encouragement.
“People gave me very positive and encouraging feedback and I thank them for their support,” he told The Sunday Times of Malta when contacted yesterday.
Deciding to go public was not easy, but he reasoned out: “Since I was not ashamed to make a fool of myself on the road, I have no reason to be ashamed now that I’m doing something about it”.
The singer, who twice represented Malta at the Eurovision song contest, explained that he started abusing drugs after facing personal problems, and last July, he hit rock bottom.
“Two months before I entered the Caritas programme, on September 4, I was very bad... I had let myself go and no longer believed in myself. You lose motivation, determination and your values,” he recalled. But some determination remained inside the singer who was wise enough to realise he needed help, and reached out for it.
He checked himself into a Caritas residential programme where he spent three and a half months. While there, he also discovered a new talent for songwriting and, inspired by other residents, and with the support of a man who works nights, he wrote the song Walking Away.
“This was the first time I expressed my feelings in writing... These included feelings of regret for people I’ve hurt... we not only hurt ourselves but also the people who love us,” he said.
He makes it clear he is still a recovering addict and is currently attending Caritas’s outreach evening classes, and will work to graduate from the programme in July. He also plans to apply for a University of Malta course, which starts in October, to become a carer.
“I want to help people, but first I need to help myself,” he says.
Caritas Malta can be reached on 2590 6600 or by sending an e-mail to info@caritasmalta.org.