For years he was trapped in an addiction that had erased his affections, plans, and will to live , swallowing him first into the well of cocaine and then into that of heroin . Only drugs existed. Then came the turning point: "It was my parents who saved me; I had reached the end." And now he launches an appeal: "To young people who use drugs, I say to stop, not to risk abandoning this life that is full of beautiful things . To parents, however, I say not to abandon your children, but to entrust them to those who know how to escape this sick and diabolical world."
Daniele Trogu , 43, from Cabras, recounts a painful part of his life. Today he is happy in Verona, the city where he decided to move a few years ago after overcoming difficult times. He has a child and works as a metalworker. It's not easy for him to put into words his journey of drugs, dealing, prison, and trips to the hospital . He decided to do so after a few days ago in Cabras, in a street in the historic center, a bottle used for smoking crack was found . He hopes his words will be heard. "I was 15 and I didn't like rules. I always hung out with older kids, imitating them, so I started smoking my first joints. Shortly afterward, I tried ecstasy pills in the clubs; it quickly became an addiction, which is why I started dealing. I needed money to buy drugs. I didn't want to hurt anyone. I had completely lost control when, due to an accident, I lost my best friend. At that point, I was only interested in drugs. It was as if they helped me fill this void.” Then came the arrest, the prison sentence, and house arrest for seven months. “But, once I was free,” he says, “heroin arrived.” It was Daniele’s parents who saved him: “Without them, I would have died. One day I was sick, they took me to the hospital. My mother, in order to look after me, had decided to quit her job.” Daniele spent several years in the San Patrignano community. “I completed the program in 2019. From that moment, my second life began, and I learned the work I do today.”
Today, Daniele wants to help those who risk going down the wrong path: "Families must stop these young people who, out of boredom or blinded by the group, end up in this tunnel. Alone, kids don't always understand how dangerous it is. It starts with a joint, but then it's a snap to move on to other things. I tell young people, instead, that rather than trying these substances, it's better to find a hobby, a passion, a sport, or another form of entertainment. In times of difficulty, you have to learn to ask for help, listen, and rely on your loved ones. You can get over drugs; life is worth living; it's beautiful."