Drugs addiction can be cured

JOHANNESBURG SOUTH: More and more youngster are trapped in the drug den for many reasons. However some of the reasons are just pure unawareness.

Wayne Fearick, addiction councillor from Local Drug Action Committee (LDAC) said after detoxing the addicts, they teach them ways of life as if they were children again.

Drugs are very dangerous, from the height of ecstasy to the depths of hell. Quick as a flash, drug users can cause themselves brain damage for the rest of their lives. This is what some street drugs can do to users.

Some of the stories of the people of the South who have been into drugs and now are seeking help include:

*Shiela Seshi-Blott (24) who is a patient at the LDAC. She has been on crystal meth, a drug like no other she says. This drug has a way of depriving users of their future. It robs them of their life and takes away their dreams.

*Oscar Vundras (31) used to take cannabis, crystal, crack and cocaine. He used these drugs for 15 years as a chronic user. Oscar said it is an illusion that will destroy its victims mercilessly. He has spent a year at the centre and has recovered and been equipped with new methods of behaviour.

*Bhekithemba Mzumbe (29), used nyaope, a drug, he says, that is very dangerous and kills users slowly. It causes users to fight with their family and steal from them, as users will do anything to get their hands on this drug.

Here are 10 commonly used drugs

1. Cocaine

Street names: blow, charlie, coke

2. Crack

Street names: rocks, freebase

3. Ice (crystal methamphetamine)

Street names: crystals, crystal, meth, rock, candy, batu, glass, LA glass, super ice, hot ice, LA crystal, Hawaiian salt

4. Ecstasy

Street names: XTC, e, Adam, MDMA

5. Methamphetamine

Street names: tik, tik-tik, crystal, meth, crystal meth, crank, uppers, speed

6. Heroin

Street names: smack, mud, China white, brown, Mexican brown, brown sugar, gear, H, horse, junk

7. Mandrax

Street names: whites, buttons

8. Cannabis

Street names: dagga, weed, marijuana, dope, grass, pot, ganja, hash, hashish

In South Africa cannabis is grown in rural areas and sold as a means to put food on the table. Cannabis contains more than 426 known chemicals, including the mind-altering substances known as THCs (tetrahydrocannabinols).

9. LSD

(Lysergic acid diethylamide)

Street names: acid, blotter acid, microdot, white lightning

LSD is an odourless and colourless drug available in two forms: paper stamps impregnated with LSD or micro-tablets (“microdots”) containing LSD in very low concentrations per tablet.

10. Nyaope

Street names: cream, dovolo and tiles

*Not their real names.

Some of the information. Source: www.health24.com