I craved a coke hit every 20 MINS ..I had to change my life or die

Men's group coach Ciaran shares his inspiring journey to kick addiction

- BY ANNA MCAREE

A FITNESS fan has opened up about his personal journey in beating cocaine addiction, which at its peak saw him craving it almost every 20 minutes.

Ciaran Mac Cearain, from Derry, now runs a men's group to help others seeking help with their mental health.

The 37-year-old has told how, as a teenager, he enjoyed a social drink with friends, but was never initially interested in drugs.

He said: "I started drinking when I was 15 or 16, just as a social aspect thing when you start to have a bit more free time. It started with a Friday night with the boys after the Derry City match, and we just had a couple of drinks and then would go home to our own beds.

"I liked a drink, but I was never into drugs at all. I was into football, but I tore my ACL when I was 17, so then my weekends freed up a bit. I didn't have football on a Saturday or Sunday morning, so I didn't mind going out on a Friday night because I didn't have to get up in the mornings."

CONFIDENCE

For Ciaran, the lack of purpose at the weekends then led him to be more open about drug use.