Amy Austria, isiniwalat kung paano niya tuluyang tinalikuran ang droga

• Veteran actress Amy Austria opened up about her past battle with drug addiction and substance abuse
• She revealed that it took six years of struggling before she finally decided to quit
• Austria credited a retreat invited to her by fellow actor Christopher de Leon as a turning point in her recovery
• She said her faith helped her surrender the battle to God and leave the addiction behind

Veteran actress Amy Austria has opened up about one of the darkest chapters of her life, recalling her six-year struggle with drug addiction and the difficult process of breaking free from substance abuse.

In a recent interview, Austria candidly discussed how what initially seemed manageable gradually became an addiction that was difficult to control. She recalled trying different drŭgs in the past before eventually becoming hooked on shabu, or methamphetamine.

“Nung una, ah parang wala naman okay lang siya. Pero little by little, hindi mo alam na hahanap-hanapin mo na siya. Tapos pag ayaw mo na, tulog ka nang tulog, kain ka na nang kain, tumataba ka na, hindi ka na makabanyo,” she recalled.

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Austria also described the physical and emotional difficulties she experienced whenever she attempted to stop using the illegal substance. Her withdrawal symptoms became so difficult that she struggled to function without taking it, eventually causing her to return to the drug despite wanting to quit.

“Ang sakit na ng ulo mo sa kakatulog hanggang sa dumating sa point na almost one year in out, in out, in out. Sabi ko, ayoko na. Papaano to? Pero maski ayaw mo na, dahil nga yung katawan mo hindi ka na makakilos, wala ka nang magawa, bibili ka nanaman,” she said.

She recalled how using the substance temporarily allowed her to resume everyday activities, making the cycle even harder to break.

“Pagkabili mo, ayan magagawa mo nanaman–– malilinis mo na ulit ang bahay, magagawa mo na dapat mong gawin, makakapagbanyo ka na. Six years yun. Six years yun na trinitry mong makipaglaban,” she added.

A major turning point came when fellow actor Christopher de Leon invited Austria to attend Oasis of Love, a retreat that helped her look at her struggle from a different perspective. She said the experience strengthened her faith and encouraged her to surrender her battle to God.

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“But then, nung ininvite ako ni Christopher de Leon na umattend ng Oasis of Love–– doon sa retreat nila–– sumama ako. This time sabi ko, ‘Lord, sa’yo na to. Alam mo naman na six years ko na gustong tanggalin ito. Hindi ko kaya’,” she explained.

Austria's account highlights how recovery was not an immediate process for her, but a long and difficult battle that eventually led her toward faith.

The veteran actress also expressed hope that younger members of the entertainment industry are not facing similar struggles today. She said she has not encountered anyone dealing with illegal drug problems in her more recent projects.

“Sana naman hindi. Pero wala pa naman ako nakakasama o nakikita na meron ganun problema,” she ended.

Amy Austria (born Esmeralda Tuazon on December 15, 1961) is an award-winning Filipino actress renowned as one of Philippine cinema's premier dramatic talents, earning widespread acclaim for iconic films like Brutal and Jaguar. With a career spanning over four decades, the FAMAS Best Actress recipient continues to be a staple in Philippine entertainment with prominent roles in hit television series such as Maging Sino Ka Man, Walang Hanggan, and Dirty Linen.

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In another report, Hev Abi was arrested alongside six other individuals on April 14, 2026, during an operation carried out under a firearms warrant. A public information officer from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group confirmed the arrest. Following the incident, Urban Department denied allegations linking the rapper to illegal drŭgs and loose firearms through a Facebook statement. The label also said its legal counsel was already coordinating with authorities regarding the matter.

Meanwhile, Park Bom stirred controversy after accusing her 2NE1 bandmate Sandara Park of alleged drug abuse and claiming that she had been made a scapegoat in connection with the issue. Bom revisited her 2010 Adderall case, explaining that the medication had been prescribed to her for Attention Deficit Disorder. She alleged that the circumstances surrounding the case had been manipulated and called on the public to examine the facts, while also mentioning figures such as Yang Hyun-suk and CL. Although Bom later deleted the Instagram post, screenshots of her statements quickly circulated online, while a close associate said the message was written during a period when her health was unstable.

Source: KAMI.com.gh