A life free from crack and heroin addiction

20 Apr 2024 | 6 min read | Updated: 29 Apr 2024

In the second episode of our podcast, Peggy-Sue Figueira and Lya Young-Afat speak with Patrick van der Jagt, also known as Caveman010, about his remarkable journey from homelessness and addiction to living in a lovely home with his loving girlfriend and their two-year-old son. By sharing his story, he hopes to inspire others going through the same thing. Recovery is possible.

“If I can do it, anyone can.”

In this blog, we explore Patrick’s life story and his path to recovery. We also take a closer look at questions surrounding crack and heroin addiction, giving everyone the knowledge they need for a better, happier life.

If you would prefer to watch or listen to the podcast, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHBbM70mtdQ

Patrick van der Jagt, better known as Caveman010, was once homeless and addicted to crack and heroin. His life revolved around getting his next dose, with no thought of recovery.

“My attitude was: I’ll just see how it all turns out.”

Whenever he woke up, the first question he asked himself was: “Have I got any drugs? No? What are we going to do about it?”

Getting money was therefore a constant challenge too.

While living with active addiction, he had almost no strength left to get things done, such as working so he could pay his rent. As a result, Patrick was homeless several times. He slept in doorways and found himself trapped each day in the destructive cycle of searching for drugs.

Taking part in “The Rotterdam Project” in 2018 was Patrick’s first step towards recovery. He arrived for his interview severely underweight and functioning solely on his survival instinct.

“At the time, I was being manipulative to save my own skin. I exaggerated things to show that the help really was necessary.”

Despite that, there was something in Patrick—“a certain sweet openness”, as Peggy-Sue experienced it—that had led people to put him forward for help. During the programme, he finally received the support and guidance he needed to take a different path and ultimately enter recovery.

“But the back door was already wide open.”

He remembers the attention he received during the conversations, but also the challenges he faced when he had to stand on his own two feet after completing the programme. He then had to make his own decisions, keep his own appointments and start living for himself.

Recovery is not a straightforward journey; it requires letting go of old habits and embracing new patterns. Patrick described how difficult this process had been for him.

“You have to create new pathways in your mind, and every time you do something different from what you’re used to, it hurts.”

This was difficult, and Patrick relapsed twice as a result.

“You have to say goodbye to what you have held on to, cherished and loved for so long, because it was always there.”

The turning point for Patrick came when he returned to where his life had begun: home. There, he reconnected with his childhood, of which he has many fond memories. He also rediscovered how he had felt before the addiction. This awakened something in him: the realisation that he had not been born with his problems. He had once felt passion; it was still within him and could return.

As addiction is discussed around the table, the question arises of whether addiction can be regarded as a disease. Both Peggy-Sue and Lya, each with their own expertise and personal experience of addiction and recovery, see addiction as a chronic disease.

With this disease, you have lived with excess for so long that the pathway has already been laid down in your mind. That means you cannot have just one more beer, because you will end up drinking the entire crate.

“It’s no longer a question of if, but when. It happens.”

You can see this in other aspects of your life too. Peggy-Sue also noticed the disease of addiction within herself in relation to food. When she brought certain foods into her home—anything containing sugar and flour—that she found difficult to resist, she noticed that she would obsess over them for the rest of the day:

“I bought that. Am I going to eat it or throw it away?”

Recovery from crack or heroin addiction is possible, but it requires a lifelong commitment to recovery. The recovery process may involve several stages, including detoxification, therapy, residential addiction treatment (rehab) and ongoing support. Although relapse is a genuine risk, with the right treatment and support many people can live healthy and fulfilling lives without alcohol or drugs.

It is also important to keep attending meetings after leaving the treatment centre.

“That’s where everything will fall into place.”

Patrick keeps reminding himself that he has broken the cycle.

“For me, it’s all or nothing, so every day I have to choose not to use. Every day I surrender: I’m not fighting any more. No more debating whether I will or won’t; I’ve had enough. In this moment, I am at peace.”

Patrick has now been completely abstinent for four years and, in his own words, in recovery for five. He now leads a happy and fulfilling life. He has created a loving family with his girlfriend and child and found his calling as a speaker and photographer, sharing his experiences to inspire and help others on their own path to recovery. How did he do it?

Create structure with a daily routine
According to Patrick, the first step is to find structure.

“If you are actively thinking about recovery, the best thing you can do is keep a diary and have a daily routine. This might include day treatment, work or exercise. The best approach is to keep yourself occupied with something else.”

Learn to love yourself: accept help
Your recovery must come first, and that is connected to self-worth and being able to choose yourself. Choosing yourself also means accepting help.

“I always thought: I should be able to do it myself. But I couldn’t do it alone. It doesn’t happen all at once. You fall down and get back up again.”

Patrick offers another piece of advice to make things easier for anyone struggling with this:

“Listen to the people who know what they’re talking about.”

Let go of an unhealthy environment and leave your past behind
Starting your path to recovery can sometimes feel like an enormous challenge and become overwhelming. When it does, remember to take small steps. Let go of your past and focus on the present. Recovery is now, and everything you do today counts.

Take a critical look at your surroundings as well. You may spend a lot of time with people who are also actively using. This might feel like a safe environment, but learn to love yourself and break free from it. Attend meetings and connect with other people.

“It’s important to have role models and to see that it works. Then suddenly you realise: I’ve been in recovery for six months!”

If you are addicted to crack or heroin, it is important to seek professional help immediately. You may already have taken the first step: acknowledging your problem. You can get in touch in several ways, after which a personalised treatment plan will be drawn up based on your situation. With the help of experienced specialists and a supported treatment programme, you will work together to find your own path to recovery.

It is also important to surround yourself with a supportive network of friends, family members and peers who understand what you are going through. They can encourage, support and motivate you during your recovery. At the same time, you should look after yourself as well as possible by eating healthily, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly and reducing stress. It is important to treat yourself with care and find activities that bring you joy and relaxation during this process.