THE management of Recovery Life Institute is pleased with the progress made by in-house and outpatient members at their centre in Robertsham.
Deon Kok, Shenaaz and Ishaan Khan wanted the former addicts to relate their stories to the community of the South.
It is part of their healing process and enables them to measure themselves on how much headway they have made. Six of them chatted to the COURIER about their ordeals.
Rodney Paulsen (50): “I was an addict for almost 10 years, smoking crystal methamphetamine (crystal meth) and mandrax. I lost my family and all the values in me. I wasn’t a good enough father for my children. All my responsibilities as a parent were neglected. That’s when I realised I cannot go on like this. I decided to seek help and asked God to help me.
“Recovery Life Institute was the answer to my prayers. Here they helped me a lot. I have been here for four months and there’s a huge difference in my life. To be here is really a blessing – management know what they are doing.”
Ian Pietersen (40): “I smoked zol (dagga) for 20 years and I found myself graduating to crystal meth and mandrax. In the process I lost myself. I was married with children and all was lost. For three years, streets were my home where I found myself hustling to get something to eat.
“Then there was this one Saturday. While I was walking in the park, I saw people worshipping. I was on my way to get mandrax. Something triggered in my mind. It was a sign to quit this habit. I then went to my family and told them I need help.
“Deon came to my rescue. When I walked in here I thought they only deal with drug problems. However, I also found out that it was also about a spiritual journey. In the five months I have been here, God has been in control of my life. This is a rehab with a difference – people must come here for recovery.”
Lintin Pedro (23): “Five months into this rehabilitation I can see the way forward. I was 16 years old when mandrax and crystal meth caught me. When I couldn’t support my habit, I started to do crime.
“I was misleading myself in every respect; however, my family was there to help me. They asked whether I needed help. They then brought me here. I am proud to say that my family trust me again because I’m clean now – no more drugs or cravings. I now want a better life for myself and I will also encourage the addicted youth to come forward and seek help here.”
Jeslin Thusi (27): “For 10 years it was weed (dagga) and then crystal meth. I’ve lost a lot in my life: job, family and the relationship with my child. Someone suggested this place for me.
“It has been a spiritual journey and my family is back with me and they really support me. I will encourage young mothers to come here if they have similar problems to what I had. The past six months have been good to me – I thank Recovery Life Institute.”
Charlene Janse van Rensberg (19): “I have finished the six-month period here; I’m in my eighth month as an outpatient. I was 12 when I started with hookah pipes stuffed with dagga and for six years I was on crystal meth. I lost my family and my daughter.
“It was a sad sight when I would go door to door begging for food. At the time I thought my family had deserted
me; however, it was the other way round. Thank God I found this place and I’m responding well to the treatment.”
Antonio Green (30): “I have lived in Bellavista all my life and I was raised in a good Christian home. Then I started bad habits. Nice times led to unmanageable behaviour. I was using methcathinone (Cat) for 10 years.
“I once had a clear vision of what I wanted in life but it was all short-lived. I started losing interest in my family and in my children. I would never keep a job. I became a very selfish person. Though I had Christian beliefs that one day it will be okay, my life was crumbling in front of my eyes.
“My family, who were always a pillar of my strength, told me that a wise man will always seek counselling. I knew then that it was time to receive help. That was my breakthrough. Today I’m grateful because I’m looking forward to building my future and I love God because He has restored me. I have a job now and my life is back to normal. I’m also looking forward to helping others as well.”
Thank you
The management team at the centre wants to thank Ward 55 Clr Rashieda Landis for a job well done. “She has been behind us all the way, a mother who helped us and a very hands-on person. We salute her for the effort she put into this centre,” said Shenaaz Khan.
Ishaan Khan said no one should give up as this battle can be won when working as a collective and Deon Kok mentioned that drugs have no age limit. Anyone can fall victim. However, there is a way out.
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