Kick the habit and live!

JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – The story of the Walking with Winners rehabilitation centre is a miracle to say the least.

Pastor Dave Barber, who started the centre three years ago with his wife, Isobel, was a drug addict for several years and a policeman in the 80s. Dave was exposed to unspeakable violence during this time and turned to drugs and crime after he was dismissed from the police. He was sad to leave the police, but started seeing the reality of drug abuse. In his book Cracked & restored he writes, “What changed was my view towards addicts, who by definition commit crime, not for personal gain but out of necessity, to feed their demon – drug addiction. And that demon is always hungry.”

After his suspension from the police, Dave became involved in the dark underworld of the nightclubs and bouncing world. He started dealing in drugs in the nightclubs and eventually could not escape the hold it had on him. He says he witnessed murder, assault, rape, drug dealing, prostitution and every other form of depravity in the clubs. Every time he went for drug rehabilitation, he had nowhere else to go as his family was deceased and his relationship with his mom was very poor from a young age. He needed money to live and the underworld was where he was welcomed and comfortable.

Dave writes of the then police force; “I was part of a system that trained and set me up for failure by completely abandoning me and throwing me out with all the skills that they provided me with. Skills to be a trained assassin and hit man- I had to eat and pay my rent. It’s a similar situation to guys that served long prison sentences. When they are released into a hostile and unforgiving society with no assistance in any form, their natural inclination is to return to where they are most comfortable and welcome. This could be why most of them end up back in jail soon afterward. That when pencil pushing bureaucrats tell everyone, ‘See I told you he’d never make it.’

In Dave’s experience it is not only the drug dealers who benefit from the sale of illicit drugs, but an entire industry has been built on addiction and its causes. He writes, “By eradicating drugs and addiction we are going to put a serious dent in some people’s pockets, which may not be very well received.”

Dave‘s first experience with drugs was with dagga, and he says “What a lot of people don’t realise is that it is in fact a very dangerous substance that has ensured a lot of people misery through psychosis, paranoia and long stays in mental institutions.”

After this he went on to LSD, mandrax and eventually crack cocaine, which controlled his life completely. His only thought was where the next fix would come from. Since 1992 Dave writes that we have seen an incredible influx of drugs into South Africa with the invasion of foreign nationals that flood our streets. Most of these people are unemployed and selling drugs is their main source of income.

“I am particularly tired of seeing kids dying, imprisoned and prostituting themselves as a result of this epidemic.” Young children are already being exposed to drugs at primary school level, and heroine junkies as young as nine are becoming a reality.

After many years of drug addiction and only a bag of clothes as possession, Dave ended up in the Karoo at “the Rehab”, where he met a young couple who were recovering addicts and who had been reunited with their children. He saw in them what he wanted for his life: freedom, hope and a future.

While in rehab the pastor saved his life twice and he learned some valuable lessons. One was to never quit the programme, no matter how unpleasant or hard it is, and never get romantically involved with another drug addict. Dave did this twice and was burnt badly.

He also relapsed and eventually ended up in Modderbee prison, where gangs ruled the inmates. Dave lost a lot of weight, his teeth rotted, his eyes were sunken into his head and his skin had a grey colour to it. In his despair he contacted “the Rehab” and signed a two-year agreement to undergo a rehabilitation programme when he came out of prison. This saved his life and started him on the road to recovery and eventually he could realise his dream of opening Walking with Winners in Walkerville.

Currently there are 85 patients from all walks of live. The centre has seen good athletes, pilots, mine bosses, lawyers, journalists, musicians and many more. They accept young people from the age of 18, and men and women live separately. They work on the premises and do manual tasks such as painting, gardening, wood work and welding. Those with an aptitude help in the kitchen. Meals are prepared according to nutritional guidelines. The patients also play soccer and take part in other sport. There is a gym, pool table and a tuck shop.

An eye-opener was the infrared sauna which helps the patient to kick the addiction. For seven consecutive days the person sits in the sauna once a day. The sauna reaches about 55 degrees. The drugs are broken down on a cellular level and pushed out through the pores. The person then washes the drugs off in a shower and receives a vitamin booster.

Two programmes are followed concurrently; one is the 12-step programme and the other talks about the truth of drugs and celebrating recovery. The shortest programme lasts six months, and all who work there or have been through the process agree this is the shortest period as there are no quick fixes.

There are councillors and a social worker who helps patients, and Dave is always available for more complex situations and counselling. His wife Isobel works alongside him and helps many of the patients in their recovery process. In Isobel’s own words: “I am just so glad to have my husband back.”

Dave is very grateful to God for giving him this opportunity to reach and help addicts across the country. He makes it very clear that without the help of Jesus he would not have lived to see the light.

South Africa is now the second largest importer after the USA, of cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and drugs like Cat and Meth (tik).

Drugs are not far away, and many kids know more than their parents. If parents and communities keep sweeping this under the carpet, we will fall victim to a problem that will destroy our families, finances and future. Knowing there is help out there for you or a loved one is a big relief.

Don’t delay, contact Walking with Winners and speak to Dave Barber at 072 936 5264 or email him at dave@nodrugs.co.za