Mendez

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Mendez: I am an alcoholic

Mendez was drinking for years. The turning point came in December when he was put in a treatmentcenter and under the swedish Eurosong was the first time he was sober on stage. These days he's allright and have accepted that he's an alcoholic. "My lifeprogram is to keep sober. Now I will live my life", he says.
The favorite, Mendez, ended up at second in the swedish Eurosong contest.

The popstar tells about the alcohol, his family and his attempted suicide.
The place as second at the Eurosong contest was a victory for Mendez.
A victory over the alcohol.
- I am an alcoholic, Mendez tells exclussive to Aftonbladet.
  Already when Mendez won the partfinal in Växjö he couldn't keep his tears back
- Then I felt the love from Sweden. Sudddenly I understood that I had a chance, he says.
After the final the happiest second place the Eurosong had ever seen was celebrating.
- That kick is better then any kind of ddrugs, he tells.
Something that he'd never said two months ago. Back then the alcohol was his life, the parties and the drugs all that ment something.
- I've tries everything. But it was the alcohol that really broke me. I was drunk every day.
Aftonbladet meets a relaxed Mendez. The Eurosong contest is now over. But now Mendez has another fight to win. The fight against the alcohol.

"I was screaming and fighting"
- I was a disgusting devil, a real bastard. The alcohol made me the worst egoist.. I didn't listen to anyone, i was shouting and fighting
Mendez started the party when he was 13. Went from spirit to drugs. Then the big break-throught with the hit "Razor Tongue" came and the party kept on going.
- I had succe so early and fooled out coompletely. I was drinking 10- 12 days succesive. Regreted in a couple of days, but then I started all over again. I was often sitting alone in a friends apartment and just drank.
Mendez skipped meetings and intervjues, came to concerts in the last minute.
The list of all the bad things the alcohol brought to his life is long. I month in jail for driving under influence of alcohol, fines for damaging hotelrooms. Fights and lots of night in jail for drinking.
- But the worst thing is that my family,, that's the most important thing in my life, i didn't care about, Mendez says.
This autum Mendez felt so bad that he try to kill himself. In the last minute his brother managed to stop him from throghing himself from the balcony in the family's appartment.

"I was crying for two weeks"
The turning point came in December. His musiccompanymade him a decision: treatment for his drinking problem or no contract. 17th December Mendez left to a 29 days long treatment.
- I was crying for two weeks and wanted to get away from there. Afterwords I finally understood what I had done with my life, Mendez says.
- It was horrible to be there over Chrisstmas without my family. But then they didn't have to have me there, drunk and aggresive.
Today he feels allright and have accepted that he is an alcoholic.
- It was an unbelieveable relief when I understood that alcoholism is a cronic sicknesser . That is not actually me being so stupid.
- And I'm really greatful to my musiccommpany that cared so much that they gave me this chance.
On his right arm he has the tatoo "Familia". On the left arm "La vida loca". Even though his finnished with his crazy, wild life now.
- I want to catch back the time I lost wwith my three kids. And I really have to fokus about keeping myself sober from now.

Sober on stage for the first time.
Throught be open and tell about his problem he hopes to help others.
- Out branch is tough. DIt's party all tthe time. Maybe this can be a warning and help for others that's out in trouble, Mendez says.
Eurosong in Växjö was the first big test for Mendez after he'd left the treatmentcenter. Both say no to alcohol in the parties and to stand on the stage.
- I've always been drunk when I've been on stage. For the first time I was going to go out there sober and that made me extreamly nervous.
But Mendez made it. And now he'll made the rest too. With help from the treatment and support from friends and family and through taking one day at the time.
- My lifeprogram is to keep sober. Now II will live my life, he says with a big smile.

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