To this plaguing issue, a recovering drug addict, Phillip du Plessis, tells his story of his fight with drug dependency.
Phillip has been clean for 75 days, after 16 years of using drugs such as Cocaine, Cat, Weed and Ecstasy, he is now on the path of recovery.
From the tender age of 20, Phillip started experimenting with party chemicals such as Weed and Ecstasy with friends – until he got “hooked”.
“I learnt from a very young age to fight for everything I had. From Standard eight (Grade 10) I worked as a cashier at a bottle store, and paid my way through high school,” explains Phillip.
“I hit rock bottom when my daughter (9), who was five years old at the time, told me that her mother’s boyfriend was molesting her, and showing her his private parts and sexual footage. I blamed myself and felt responsible, and couldn’t get enough of my drug of choice,” a teary eyed Phillip recalls.
“I trapped myself into an emotional bubble, wallowing in self-pity, isolating myself from my daughter and breaking my promises to her. Drugs rob you of your emotions, and ensures that you don’t cry or speak to anyone.”
Phillip says the first time he cried was after he was admitted into House of Mercy alcohol and drug rehabilitation treatment centre.
“The first step to recovery is admitting that you are powerless, and that drugs have messed up your life. The second step is finding a rehab,” says Phillip.
Phillip was admitted to House of Mercy for six weeks from May 8, to June 20, for treatment.
“When I was admitted to the centre, I weighed 53kg, I hadn’t eaten or slept in six days, and I hadn’t shaved or taken a bath in ages,” he says.
“House of Mercy has taught me how to laugh, cry, and take care of myself. I am very spiritual, I have a sense of worth and of pride, and I’ve found God,” says Phillip.
According to SAPS figures, 60 percent of crimes committed nationally are related to substance abuse, and the perpetrators of these crimes are either under the influence of substances, or trying to secure money for their next fix.
In 2004, government disbanded the SA Narcotics Bureau (SANAB), a drug-fighting unit within the SAPS.
Phillip believes that a drug task force committed to rooting out drug lords and drug operations is what is needed to eradicate the drug problem in society.
“Better policing needs to take place. My faith in the police is 0 per cent, because the police force is corrupt to the core. Addicts will tell you stories of how they buy policemen.
“If we cannot sort out drug corruption in the police force, then we are fighting a losing battle,” says an emotional Phillip.
He explains that another way to fight the drug problem is to have more recovered addicts come forward to tell their stories to young people.
House of Mercy offers various intensive treatments for all chemically dependent persons from the age of 18 years and older.
For more information you may contact them on 011 894 4050/2.
