Mr Brown Gama (27) from Ermelo is on the road to recovery after years of substance abuse
Born in Wesselton, he grew up in an abusive environment.
“My father was abusive towards my siblings and I, but my mother had it the worst,” he said.
His parents separated when he was 10 years old and this in turn had an adverse impact on his ability to stay focused in school.
When his father passed away, he went into a state of depression and years of substance abuse followed.
“I was friends with my neighbour and saw him using nyaope and also began smoking daily,” he said.
Soon he would call the dumpsite his home.
The breakthrough moment in his life was when he was placed in a shelter at the Ermelo Sport-Inn during the Covid-19 lockdown in June.
With the help of an outreach group called Elroi Outreach, who encouraged Mr Gama to stop abusing substances, he decided to take the first step.
“I was suffering and felt like a slave to the drug,” he said.
Read the complete article in the Highvelder Newspaper.
