It took Pope Benedict XVI's presence in Malta and his meeting with youths at Valletta Waterfront to show drug addicts in rehabilitation they could have fun and party without drugs.
"This is such a great feeling; it is so satisfying and I am so happy," said 43-year-old Frans Frendo, who has been a substance abuser for 13 years and is only now "learning how to live".
He was among 60 junkies from various Caritas programmes and at differing stages of rehabilitation that attended the Pope's successful encounter with youths.
Many felt they would be helped by yesterday's experience when they walked away from the event.
An enthusiastic John Cassar, 31, has been in San Blas for two months, following 13 years of heroin addiction. Cheering the Pope, he said "he means a lot to me.
"The fact that the head of the Catholic Church is here is important to me; it is an honour that he came to Malta. He is the Word of God and I want to hear his message," said the man who has only been clean for three months.
The atmosphere at the waterfront made him feel good because he was experiencing having fun without using drugs, as well as being spiritual - something he had lost due to his addiction. The Pope was rekindling these feelings in him again, he continued.
"I am happy without drugs. They left me in a corner and alone; I just existed," he said as he danced to the hymns for the Pope, admitting he abandoned religion when he was taking drugs.
"We never believed in God but we do now that we joined Caritas's rehabilitation programme."
Joseph Demicoli, 28, who has been in and out of prison, following 13 years of heroin addiction that led to debts and crime, never misses Mass since he joined the rehabilitation programme. "When things go wrong, I go to Church and pray to God."
Another 25-year-old addict, who has been on heroin since he was 14, said he never imagined he would attend a religious event when he was doing drugs. Looking around him, he said the experience was teaching him how to appreciate life more and what a healthy life was like.
"I will gain happiness out of this event. I am with positive, clean people - something I never experienced."