Saija Lentonen talks about her history with drugs in an interview with Kodin Kuvalehti.
Saija Lentonen photographed in 2008. ESA PYYSALO
Former actress Saija Lentonen, 49, says In an interview with Kotin Kuvalehti openly about his own drug background.
Today, Lentonen works as a street worker for the Deaconess Institute and meets people with substance abuse problems in Helsinki every day. Lentonen feels sympathy for them, but not pity.
– I show that I hear and see them. My own past as a drug user helps me to help others.
In Lentonen’s childhood home, drugs were talked about in a negative tone. The use started at the age of 18-19, when Lentonen went to a techno party and took ecstasy.
– I was impulsive and adventurous. I tried drugs out of curiosity. That night I had the best feeling ever. I felt free. I was in contact with others, everything was beautiful for a while, he tells the magazine.
Lentonen wanted more of that feeling and gradually started using amphetamine. The use felt like innocent experiments.
When his studies at Teatterikorkeakoulu began at the age of 20, Lentonen applied for his place in circles with “endless partying”. Under the influence of drugs, the feeling of being an outsider disappeared.
Saija Lentonen is remembered for, among other things, the film Soloilua. Photo from 2008. HANNA IMMONEN
At the age of 27, Lentonen became unemployed and he started writing an autobiographical novel. Reflecting on his life for the novel, he realized that he didn’t want to live like this. He sobered up little by little, he even became drunk. Lentonen says that it took ten years for the feelings to use drugs to end.
A couple of years after his decision to change his life, he got the main role Soloingfrom the movie.
In addition, Lentonen is remembered among other things On the moonfrom the movie, Ex-happy– as well as Encrypted Lives series. She was seen in Salkkarei as Sara Polvijärvi’s actress.
Lentonen previously opened up about his work and background also in Yle’s MOT documentary You can’t die.
– I feel that I can utilize all my previous skills. Yes, I have contact with this world and these phenomena from my own history and youth, Lentonen said in the documentary.