‘I’m alive, I didn’t die’ – Costa

Bedfordview restaurant owner Costa Carastavrakis has had a rough past and has now told his story in a memoir, I Am Costa – From Meth to Marathons in which he details turning his life around and making a comeback as a published author.

Costa (49) has been a restaurant owner in Bedfordview for four years and grew up in Johannesburg.

“I have become focused on the concept of addiction. I started getting drunk at the age of 12 and was addicted to cigarettes at the age of 14,” said Costa.

This led Costa to drinking heavily and when he reached his 30s, hard drugs became his new normal.

“I got hooked on khat, cocaine and eventually meth. Addiction was my body’s reaction to never really fitting in anywhere,” said Costa.

“I always felt different. I was bullied a lot when I was younger. I was the gay Greek kid. I wanted to get away from feeling,” said Costa.

Costa said he never reached out for help which was a catalyst for going down a dark path.

“At the age of 36, I decided enough is enough. The pain of staying the same was more than the pain of changing,” said Costa.

“When I got clean, I went back into business mode and became a franchise owner of a popular restaurant. I also became a transformation speaker.”

He promotes getting clean and finding a way back to health.

“I have done talks at St Benedict’s College and I always tell people that if you have a problem or feel out of place, you need to reach out and tell someone,” said Costa.

Being clean has made him productive and creative.

“I started running around the block daily and eventually it just became an obsession and not an addiction. I ran the New York Marathon in 2011. I also did the Standard Bank Ironman in 2012, 2013 and 2014,” said Costa.

He worked his way to becoming the best version of himself mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

Costa has journaled his entire life and decided to sign up for a writer’s group.

Nine weeks later his memoir From Meth to Marathons was completed and ready to be published.

“My book manages to incorporate a lot of humour while dealing with content that is very serious and real. I have also spoken openly about shame.

“I want to give others the opportunity to speak up about being shamed.

“Toxic masculinity is a real problem and I speak up against that as well. I am also owning everything that I did – I mean I put my face on the cover of the book,” said Costa.

For now Costa takes it day by day, adheres to his 12-step programme, has a supportive family and friend group and focuses on having a media career.

He is also busy with a second book and an upcoming podcast.

“I have so much gratitude for everybody in my life. I am grateful for my Bedfordview community, for my gay community, for my Greek community, I am grateful for another day sober. Most of all, I’m alive. I didn’t die,” said Costa.