“One Time Is All It Takes to Get Addicted”

I don’t talk much about my youth, but tonight I feel like I should. When I was younger, I chased excitement without thinking about consequences—drugs, bad choices, and nights I barely remember. I told myself it was freedom, that I was in control, but the truth is I was slowly losing myself.

What hurts the most is how easy it was to fall. I didn’t plan to become dependent, and I didn’t think one experiment would matter. But curiosity has weight, and even a single step in the wrong direction can pull you further than you expect. I lost time, trust, and opportunities that never came back.

Now I work with electricity and light, building things instead of destroying them. I’m grateful for the second chance I fought hard to earn, but I carry regret because I know how close I came to losing everything. If any young person ever reads this, hear me clearly: don’t start. From experience, one time can be enough to change your life—and not in the way you hope.