From addiction to advocacy: How ex-KDF officer overcame alcoholism; taking ethanol and chloroform

At the peak of his addiction, Isaac Muchimbo was deeply entangled in alcoholism, often mixing ethanol and sniffing chloroform to get high. Today, he is a recovered alcoholic, having battled alcohol and substance abuse for eighteen years. Muchimbo openly shared his journey, noting that although he has been sober for six years, his road to recovery was far from easy. He now uses his experiences to inspire and support others facing addiction.

His journey with alcohol began in high school, after a friend introduced him to it.

“This boosted my confidence, and from that moment, I saw alcohol as a solution for my self-esteem issues because it gave me fake courage. By the time I finished high school, I was already hooked,” he said.

After high school, Muchimbo was recruited as a cadet officer in the military. However, the easy access to cheap alcohol only worsened his drinking problem, making it impossible for him to fulfill his duties.

“I was dishonourably discharged from the military because I was deep into addiction. My parents were very supportive; they tried to encourage me to go back to school, but I couldn’t take any action to help myself,” he recalled.

In 2005, his parents sent him to India, hoping that a change in environment would help him.

“I went to India to study biochemistry. In the lab, I would take ethanol and sniff chloroform. I was expelled in the first semester. There, I joined a group of Kenyans who were also addicts, and we would use even hard drugs and sell them,” he said.

After two years, he returned home. Upon arrival, he was taken to rehabilitation, where he completed the treatment program, but unfortunately, he relapsed in 2008.

“I started a pattern of relapse that lasted ten years. My last rehabilitation was in 2017. The relapses were terrible; I was always ashamed and felt hopeless. My parents did everything to make sure my healing journey was smooth,” he recounted.

“Alcohol would make me insane and violent, so I couldn’t hold down a job. When I turned 35, I hit rock bottom and began to realize the full impact alcoholism had on me and my family,” he added.

At that point in his life, he was fully dependent on his parents and had achieved very little.

“I was suicidal, but I found myself connecting with a higher power. Honestly, that’s what helped me,” he said.

Muchimbo began working on his recovery by reflecting on his experiences and gaining a deeper understanding of how alcohol had shaped his life and his relationships.

“I had already made the decision that I wanted to stay sober and work on getting my life together. I returned to Qatar for work, and that was the turning point. Six years later, I have never touched alcohol, and I am healthier—physically, emotionally, and psychologically,” he stated.

Now, Muchimbo is a professional addiction counselor, working with recovering addicts at the Hope Wellness and Restoration Center. Through the center, he mobilizes individuals struggling with addiction and supports them through treatment programs. He also focuses on aftercare, where individuals receive empowerment and acquire new skills through college.