Overdose survivor shares harrowing tale

A patient from Wedge Gardens rehabilitation centre will never forget the day his girlfriend died of an overdose. The trauma exacerbated when he woke up to discover her cold body next to him.

The 39-year-old man, who has been a patient of Wedge Gardens in Johannesburg for the past few weeks, shared his story on condition of anonymity.

The man who started smoking and drinking while he was around 15 years old said having predominantly older siblings exposed him to the nightlife scene.

Trying to fit in with the older crowd, he then started smoking marijuana and taking ecstasy and LSD at the age of 16.

“When I was 19, I was introduced to heroin and rock cocaine, which I have battled to give up for the past 20 years. I have been to many rehabilitation centers, both as an in- and outpatient. I have had individual psychotherapy and spoken with many doctors about my addiction and how to stop.”

This addiction cycle was repeated for 10 years. While he wanted to get clean, he did not know how until learning about the 12-step programme and how the Narcotics Anonymous and Alcohol Anonymous programmes work.

He said he tremendously believed in the programme and how it could change a person’s life. This prompted him to start training to become a drug counsellor and found a new purpose in life.

“Then, at a meeting I attended, I met a girl who had amazing green eyes. The kind of eyes that pierce straight into your soul,” he said.

“She had used the same drug of choice as me, which set off warning bells. One thing I had learned is that two addicts in recovery shouldn’t get involved. There is too much baggage attached on both sides. So we became friends and nothing more. I would talk to her at meetings or whenever we bumped into each other.”

He started working at a rehabilitation centre and said he was in a really good place. “I was clean and sober for over a year, doing something that gave me an intense feeling of purpose.”

However, while at work one day, the woman with the green eyes walked in to start her new job as a counsellor there. “We grew close and even though I knew the outcome of countless relationships between addicts, I honestly thought that with both of us being clean for over a year, we would be able to make the relationship work.”

He narrated that while in recovery, if you are not working on your issues and dealing with them, they would resurface now and then.

They became a couple after about three months of her starting to work at the rehab. Open about their relationship, his boss and sponsor told him at the time it was not a good idea.

He ignored the advice and continued with the relationship. A few months later the two decided to go back to drinking on weekends.

“The girl with the green eyes had lived life with many psychological issues. Self-harm, an eating disorder diagnosed with bipolar and drug addiction,” said the man.

He recalled that they both relapsed and their relationship changed instantly, then their past issues resurfaced. The situation escalated and their daily struggle to fight the withdrawal of the drugs and perform at work was incredibly taxing. They both lost their jobs and had to be sent to separate rehabilitation centres.

Their relationship became toxic, no matter how hard they tried. One day they decided to take an overdose of drugs in search of a quick end for both of them. He organised the drugs way above their normal quantity.

Due to her body’s deterioration from intravenous drug use, she had to inject into her neck, while he could inject into his arm.

“The initial rush of the drug felt like fire erupting throughout my body, to the point of pain. We both passed out, lying next to each other like we always did when we fall asleep.

“I remember waking up very confused, not knowing what to think. Was I dead, was this the afterlife?

“I then felt her body next to mine; she was cold. I tried to wake her, felt for a pulse, nothing. I carried her to the shower and tried to revive her. I did CPR but it was too late.

“Four years later, the scene still replays clearly in my mind. Such a waste of somebody with so much talent. I would trade places with her if I could,” he said.

Saturday, 31 August was international Overdose Awareness Day which seeks to raise awareness of overdose and reduces the stigma of a drug-related death.

On the day supporters wear a silver badge, a purple wristband or a purple lanyard as a symbol of awareness of overdose and its effects.

Details: Wedge Gardens Treatment Centre wedgegardens@randaid.co.za; 011 430 0320 or 071 690 4942.

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