Living with addiction: Peggy-Sue speaks out

Mar 14, 2023 | 2 min read | Updated: Nov 28, 2025

Former addicts and addiction experts Peggy-Sue Figueira (56) were interviewed by the news platform Metro. They talk about their histories of addiction and how they now help others facing the same problems.

“It started very innocently with smoking a joint and escalated into snorting, drinking and smoking cannabis every day,” he says. He used intoxicating substances when he was feeling low, but also when he was happy or bored.

At the age of 15, he came into contact with the crisis service and was admitted to a psychiatric institution. He was offered help several times. Unfortunately, relapse was inevitable. After all, he was not stopping for himself, but for his loved ones.

Eventually, he ended up in a safe house in Amsterdam. There, he found the motivation to recover and overcome his addiction. He now supports young people and uses his own experiences to help others.

The daily confrontations with addiction problems also help keep him on track. Being continually confronted with the consequences of addiction gives him even more motivation never to go down that path again.

‘Snorted €100,000 worth of cocaine in eleven months’

Interventionist Peggy-Sue Figueira has also experienced profound lows. It began with alcohol addiction and expanded to addictions to cigarettes, diet pills and cocaine.

‘I snorted €100,000 worth of cocaine in eleven months,’ Peggy-Sue admits. After a few months in recovery, her craving for cocaine diminished. She did not relapse, and Peggy-Sue has now been clean for more than 13 years.

A birthday, a festival or sitting at a pavement café in fine weather: occasions like these are almost inextricably linked with alcohol or cigarettes. This can make attending social events very difficult for people recovering from addiction.

However, declining invitations to parties for the rest of your life is not an option either. It leads to social isolation, and there are also social occasions you really do not want to miss, such as a wedding.

Peggy-Sue Figueira says that she always assesses together with clients whether the person is ready to attend a social event. “We make sure you have someone with you who knows about your situation and can support you.”

Read the full interview