Colombian actor Juan Pablo Raba detailed his past struggles with alcohol and drugs during a candid interview on a podcast, revealing how a lonely morning reflection ultimately prompted him to abandon the lifestyle and purge his home of all substances.
Early Nights on the Ruta del Bacalao
The actor’s relationship with nightlife began during his youth in Spain. Between the ages of 16 and 20, while living in Valencia and Spain, Raba immersed himself in a local party culture that included the famed Ruta del Bacalao nightlife circuit, as detailed by Infobae and Besame.
I would close the bar and we would go party. So, I grew up with that, I grew up with the normalcy of that,
he explained. During this time, he was going out to party almost every weekend.
That routine reached a natural conclusion when he turned 20, at which point he felt the scene had nothing left to offer him, wondering what else there was to do in the universe since it was already sufficient. After returning to Colombia, he remained entirely detached from party environments and substance consumption for a decade, building a career in television and film with participation in Colombian and international productions, including roles in Distrito salvaje, Narcos, and Los 33.
Return of Consumption After a Divorce
Years later following the end of his first marriage, the situation changed. During a period marked by an intensive workload filming television soap operas in Venezuela, an acquaintance moved into his home temporarily and engaged in frequent drug use.
The physical toll of demanding work schedules combined with a domestic environment where substances were readily available. Raba explained that making telenovelas in Venezuela was perhaps one of the most demanding jobs he ever had, comparing it to one of his previous difficult jobs which was selling books door-to-door. He noted that the first most difficult job was selling books door-to-door, and the second most difficult job was making telenovelas in Venezuela.
During his reflection, the actor remarked on the difference between recreational use and a personal downward spiral, noting that drug use has a very social life initially, but once you start consuming it becomes a very self-destructive thing.
Morning Mirror Reflection Leads to a Purge
The breaking point arrived unexpectedly following a night out.
That moment of clarity led him to look at himself and question what he was doing with his life. He recounted looking in the mirror and calling himself stupid, experiencing a moment of clarity where he looked at himself and said he was acting like an idiot consuming while alone at home after a party.
Acting decisively upon that reflection, he immediately cleared all illicit substances out of his residence. He also poured out every bottle of alcohol in the house, expressing a firm belief that liquor is dangerous because it is the gateway to everything and can facilitate a relapse or new exposure to consumption.
Today, the actor maintains a constant commitment to sustaining a long-term relationship with presenter Mónica Fonseca, noting that fatherhood has become his primary driving force and dedicating space to discuss the impact of the paternal figure on his upbringing during his interview on the podcast La habitación invisible
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