“I’ve done drugs” – Timaya Opens Up about Substance Abuse Struggles

Nigerian singer, songwriter and record boss Inetimi Alfred Timaya Odon, better known by his stage name Timaya, in a recent interview, candidly revealed his battle with substance abuse.

The ‘Cold Outside’ crooner recounted how, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he visited some of his boys and found them happy. He inquired about the reason for their happiness and was told they were on drugs, Molly.

Timaya gave an honest and unfiltered account of his addiction journey during the interview. Timaya’s openness about his descent into substance abuse serves as a powerful reminder of the difficulties many people faced during the pandemic, including isolation, uncertainty, and mental health issues.

Timaya recounted the allure of drugs during a period when the world appeared to stand still. With everyone confined to their homes and normal routines disrupted, he became drawn to the temporary euphoria provided by substances such as Molly.

His initial experimentation quickly turned into dependency, resulting in a perilous cycle of relying on external sources for happiness.

He said “When I took it, I’ve never, I didn’t understand myself. I was happy. The happiness I dashed all the money in my pocket. So I wanted to just keep feeling like that. That’s how I lost a lot of weight. I was not eating. I was just happy.”

Timaya realised the dangers of seeking happiness through artificial means as he reflected on his experience. He acknowledged that drugs provided temporary relief, but emphasised their hollow nature. The realisation that genuine happiness should come from within rather than external stimuli was a watershed moment in his journey to sobriety.

“but when you now need something like a substance to make you happy, it replaces your original self. So you have to be buying happiness,” the singer added.