Faber told RTL about the moment that changed his life: “I was sitting all day long on the streets of the city center, begging. A man walked past me and didn’t simply look away, but spoke to me. He gave me courage, and that, stirred something within me. The next day I went to Para-Chute (Para-Chute is an organisation for the homeless people around Luxembourg City station) and asked for help.”
Today, the 45-year old former drug addict has a job, a home and renewed contact with his family. “You need a motivation, but also people that believe in you” explains Steve.
in August 2020, after completing a detox program at a clinic and undergoing therapy in Germany, he arrived at the Post-Therapy Center of Stëmm vun der Strooss in Schoenfels. It was here that he rediscovered the path to a fulfilling life. “You have to work for it, to respect the rules, and remind yourself every day that the fight is not over.”
According to the latest National Drug Report, over 2,000 individuals are affected by drug addiction in Luxembourg, any many of these individuals have been consuming drugs for years.
However, Luxembourg faces a shortage of significant options when it comes to drug therapy, with few available beds and extended waiting times. This means that individuals seeking treatment often explore options abroad, partly to maintain a greater degree of anonymity.
*Mika (pseudonym) decided to turn his life around in August of last year. After more than 20 years of cocaine consumption and two prison sentences, he started therapy at the CHNP, the Therapeutic Center for people addicted to illegal toxic substances in Manternach. This event marked a significant turning point in his life.
“I remind myself every day, that today is a new day. I need to be and stay clean. To think too much ahead is not realistic. And today, my motivations are far greater than my need to consume drugs. But I don’t know what tomorrow or the day after that will be like”, said Mika.
