ALBERTON – His addiction started in high school with smoking, drinking, clubbing and eventually weed, which was his gateway drug.
When that was not enough anymore, he was introduced to stronger drugs such as ecstasy, CAT and cocaine. Those where his drugs of choice and some of the most common street drugs at the moment. He described ecstasy as the party/club drug, CAT as the high energy drug and cocaine as a confidence drug.
He was an addict for 10 years. After going to any length to obtain drugs and after being caught twice, he hit rock bottom. He has been clean for two years and plans on keeping it that way.
The ex-addict tells how he had to work to support his habit, and as if that was not enough, he resorted to stealing from and lying to anyone everywhere. He would wake up in the morning, take drugs and just carry on that way all the day. He thought that was all there was to life.
That was the first time I was ‘caught out’
He met his girlfriend, who has been with him for four and a half years. About three years ago she started noticing funds going missing from the business. “That was the first time I was ‘caught out’.
“That did not make me want to stop, I just realised I had to be more careful. When you are at that stage of drug abuse, you think everybody around you is stupid and wrong, and does not know what is going on. Your secret life steps in and takes over.
“I was considered a functioning addict because I could still be ‘normal’ in front of people while being on my high or low.” Although this was the case, he had a personality change when the drugs ran out. “When you come down you feel uncomfortable, moody, irritated and sometimes even suicidal.”
After he was caught for the second time, he was emotionally and spiritually drained. Shortly after he was busted, he was introduced to a well known support group and that is where he found help.
“You become so familiar with the other addicts. There are meetings every day of the week, where everybody is encouraged to get involved in social work: welcoming a newcomer, creating a social event for recovering addicts, or even just bringing snacks or tea to the meeting, that kind of thing.”
He would wake up in the morning, take drugs and just carry on that way all the day. He thought that was all there was to life.
Ultimately the meetings are there to help the addict on the path to recovery. “It needs to be acknowledged that we did not become addicted in one day and it is a process to be followed. You just need to take that first step and the rest will fall into place.”
The one thing he made clear was that people in general always make any bad situation they are in seem as though it is the worst thing that could happen.
He says, “If you look back at what might have felt like the worst situation, it actually was not. Things always seem worse than they actually are, and can almost always be rectified. Just do the next right thing.”
The ex-addict also mentioned that many people get hooked on prescription medication, because most of the meds give you the same feeling as street drugs do. Prescription meds can sometimes be more lethal than street drugs and are not to be toyed with! The ex-addict had a near fatal overdose incident by abusing prescription meds.
My thoughts immediately are, am I the only one seeing this?
Many addicts also come from broken homes, just like he did. He wanted to stop the peer pressure and was willing to try new things as he is very open-minded. The addiction also caught on so easily because it was so freely available.
“I see about three to four drug deals every day… and that is in my street alone. Sometimes I will be driving and see someone in their car sniffing a line from a CD cover. My thoughts immediately are, am I the only one seeing this?”
He says the scary part is when addicts think that they cannot fight the addiction, “Just for today try not to use and tomorrow will look after itself.” First and foremost, addicts needs to admit to themselves that they have a problem.
Thereafter, they will be able to willingly seek help, even if not in the form of a support group, then maybe through a friend or family member. Whatever they are more comfortable with.
Even just a phone call when the urge to use strikes, helps a great deal. It could literally be your lifeline! Addicts cannot easily put the drugs down by themselves.
His addiction tore apart many friendships, although he had ‘drug buddies’. “I am lucky to have my girlfriend, who has stayed strong for me throughout my addiction.
“I hurt a lot of people, but only my close friends are proud of me. Many friends cut themselves off from me and others do not even know that I am clean, or they are just not interested.”
“All you need to do is reach out for help. You will be pleasantly surprised at the lengths others will go to, to help you.”
The most important part of his life story came when he recovered himself, got a car, progressed at work, opened a savings account and managed to kick the habit completely in one year!
Now he lives a fuller, healthier and successful life. He encourages other addicts: “You may think that your addiction is the worst and that there is no end in sight. But there are recovering addicts that are and were much worse off than you.
“All you need to do is reach out for help. You will be pleasantly surprised at the lengths others will go to, to help you.”
