North Belfast man on going from having cocaine for breakfast to turning life around

A man from North Belfast has opened up on how he went from having cocaine for breakfast to turning his life around, finding structure and uncovering a love for himself and life.

Gareth Madden, aged 32 and from Ardoyne, started drinking alcohol aged 11 before turning to drugs when he was 24 years old. Working in the restaurant industry and as a PT for a local gym, he was working around 90 hours a week during often antisocial hours.

During this time, he chose to take drugs privately, often in the toilets at his workplace. When the pandemic began, Gareth's addiction took a turn for the worse, and he began to reach out for help as society began to open back up.

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It all came to a head for Gareth when he walked into a local church for help, then headed home where his mum said she had been speaking with Cuan Mhuire in Newry, and told him to get in touch for support.

Cuan Mhuire was founded in 1966 by Sr. Consilio, who along with many dedicated supporters and staff, built it into the largest addiction treatment organisation throughout the Island of Ireland.

Now, Gareth is running the Belfast City Marathon for Cuan Mhuire to thank the treatment centre for saving his life and bringing him back to his family.

Sharing his story, Gareth said that "addiction doesn't discriminate". He added: "I am from a working-class background in Belfast and drugs and alcohol were everywhere from a young age. I started drinking aged 11 and aged 24 started on drugs.

"I chose to use them and unfortunately it got its hooks into me. I constantly wanted to chase that ‘high feeling’ but I had to keep taking more to satisfy my high.

"I was introduced to cocaine and ‘fell in love with it’, a strange thing to say but I loved how I felt when I took it. It gave me energy, a buzz, that feeling that I could do anything. I was a ‘people pleaser’ and the drugs gave me energy to help others – what I didn’t realise was I was slowly killing myself."

His drug usage became more of a problem working as a PT and in the hospitality industry. Gareth explained: "I used cocaine to stay awake, to give me energy to multi-task. I used alcohol when I got home to wind-down.

"I got home late; my wife was usually in bed so I would play my PlayStation and drink. Once tired, go to bed and start again – cocaine for breakfast."

He said he thought nobody noticed but they did, as it gradually snuck up on him, especially when his finances were being questioned.

In 2019 as Covid struck, the restaurant he worked in closed, as did the gym he was active in. The dad-of-three noticed his addiction began to take a turn for the worse during isolation.

He tried to stop once places began to reopen, attending local AA meetings, with his head telling him to stop but he would take cocaine before his meetings and lie about when he had last taken it.

His journey to treatment at Cuan Mhuire began with his mum getting in touch with the treatment centre, after Gareth had stumbled into a local church asking for help.

He said: "This was the sign I needed. I finished the treatment programme in May 2023. I realised then that I need to get clean away from general society, with no distractions.

"I learnt about introducing structure into my life, to talk – it’s ok to not be ok and to ask for help, no one should struggle on their own. I began to understand and love myself."

Once he returned home, Gareth was supported by his family and employer. He now attends four AA/NA meetings per week in person as well as online meetings.

With regards to how his life has changed, he said he now goes to bed early and wakes up early, feeling refreshed with no hangover. Gareth also has an active life, and attends gym sessions at Struggle 2 Strength gym in Newtownabbey for his wellbeing.

He said: "Cuan Mhuire saved my life and gave me the tools to live again which is my reason for wanting to do the Belfast Marathon. I hope the money I raise can help others struggling with addiction and my story can raise some positive awareness that drugs and alcohol addiction destroy lives, not just your own but those around you."

Gerry McElroy, CEO at Cuan Mhuire added: "It is wonderful to see that ex-residents want to support the charity that supported them on this life-changing programme. Cuan Mhuire last year had 2,324 admissions from all walks of life with Drug, Alcohol and Gambling addiction.

"The demand for its critical services has never been higher and as a charity, its funding needs never been greater in order to continue its work in supporting residents, upgrade our centres, and training and maintaining critical highly skilled staff."

Cuan Mhuire sees the goodness in everyone who comes to our centres and supports them on their journey from addiction to hope. If you need support, please call 028 3084 9010 or if you would like to get involved with fundraising, please contact Vicki at vewart@cuanmhuire.ie or call 07842 431470.

You can donate to Gareth's fundraiser for Cuan Mhuire by clicking here.

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