Documentary underway to highlight scourge of drug addiction
From being an addict for over a decade, to being one of South Africa's foremost experts on drugs and addiction, Quintin van Kerken is, today, at the forefront of tackling the drug scourg
He is also the CEO of The Anti-Drug Alliance South Africa.
The alliance has already managed to educate over one million schoolchildren about the dangers of drugs and addiction over the past seven years and they plan on tripling that figure in the next seven years.
One such means, in a bid to raise awareness regarding the toll that drug addiction takes on society, is shooting a documentary titled ”An Average Addict”.
“The aim of the documentary is to educate schoolchildren and the public at large, about the dangers of addiction,” said van Kerken.
”The film sets out to show the viewer where addiction can lead and how devastating it can be.
“At the same time, it will carry a message of hope – that addiction is not the end of the world and that people can and do recover to live lives of happiness, peace and normality.”
The film is set to be filmed in hotspots where gambling and nightclubs are prevalent, and also in the poorest squatter camps, where the smell of nyaope floating in the air is an everyday occurrence.
“We trust addicts will tell their stories of pain, trauma, hope and recovery,” van Kerken said.
”Families will have the opportunity to share their fears and hopes as the film takes the viewers on a journey that shows us the results of addiction in South Africa.”
Van Kerken added that the alliance has set a goal of giving 1 000 underprivileged South African schools each a copy of the film and, in doing so, educating a minimum of one million children about the dangers that addiction poses.
“We started filming at the beginning of July and will finish at the end of December,” he said.
”The film will be released in April, next year, to those who have pre-ordered DVDs and full release will be in May.
“We are also in talks with a major cinema group who have shown interest in showing the film in their cinemas.
“At this stage, we have also entered into talks with international distribution concerns, for limited international release.”
People who wish to pre-order the DVD can email to info@antidrugalliance.com.
