George vs drugs at business women’s meeting

At this month’s meeting of the East Rand Business Women, this was the case, as the room was filled with emotion and questions after Benonian George Ross, a recovering drug addict, gave a talk with the theme “Drugs, Angels, Amazing Grace and Marikana”.

Emphasis was placed on the fact that being addicted to drugs can happen to anyone.

“Drugs do not ask who or what, how old, or from where you are,” said the spunky 59-year-old.

His background tells the story of a successful young man from Marikana, who lived a life of luxury and wealth.

“But with wealth comes boredom,” said Ross.

George started running in social circles, where experimenting with drugs was no abnormality, and soon found himself caught up in the world of drugs, too.

At that time, Ross was an event planner, employed by State President Frederik Willem de Klerk and his wife, Marike.

After haven fallen into drugs he explained to have lost everything.

“I lost my self-respect, my house, my car, my business and my humanity,” he said.

He explained that a drug-addict would sell and sacrifice anything to afford their next “hit”.

He was addicted to drugs for 22 years, until one day, when feeling totally deprived of his funds and pride, he prayed to God for a sign on how to fix his life.

He asked a passer-by if he was familiar with any drug rehabilitation institutions.

Ross said the man, who said he was, in fact, from such an institution, put the number to contact on his cell phone.

His second “angel”, as he referred to his helpers, was a taxi-driver who transported him to this institution at no cost.

He described arriving at the institution as if his arrival was expected.

Ross said the identity of the first man who helped him was not familiar to the rest of the institution’s staff, which affirmed, for him, that he was an angel from God.

He believed it was God who helped him to recover.

“When you are high, Christianity means nothing to you,” he said.

“Drugs are the biggest destruction in this country.

“They destroy your soul — they destroy your humanity, your conscious.”

Ross went on to say that addictions come in more forms than we know, including our appearance and having the best possessions.

“Addiction is an illness — don’t let anyone tell you differently,” he said.

“Never say never and never look down on people.”

In conclusion, Ross said this experience was needed to make him humble.

“God made me humble,” he explained, adding that the recovery process was hell.

Nonetheless, he has been “clean” for four years now and is currently part of Victus Christi, a non-profit organisation, operating in Benoni, that helps “middle income” people who are struggling to make ends meet.

Ross then answered some additional questions from the women, and extended this with some additional advice on how to handle the circumstance of a loved one falling prey to drugs.

The East Rand Business Women meet every second Wednesday of the month, at the Birchwood Hotel, in Boksburg, and feature a different guest speaker each time.

For further information, contact Glynis Holdsworth on glynis@incash.co.za or 082 901 2813, or chairwoman Susan Noppe on noppe@worldonline.co.za.

For more information on Victus Christi, contact Ross on 081 381 0824, or email to george@victuschristi.org.za.