‘Daddy, please stop using drugs’
50 of Riverlea youth have signed up to attend the camp in attempts to conquer their drug addictions
Five Riverlea mothers decided to add their voices against the odds to fight the social ills plaguing the community.
They went to the African National Congress head office to discuss what they could do to help rid Riverlea of these social ills.
The women compiled a list of issues they felt had a detrimental impact on the lives of residents in the area and decided that drug addiction had the most devastating effect on the lives of many young ‘Rivaks’ residents.
They partnered with 1912 Online Radio and the Concerned Young People of South Africa (CYPSA) and together founded a rehabilitation programme offered by Kwa-Sizabantu at Camp Vukas’ a missionary rehabilitation centre in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Over the past two months, 50 of Riverlea youth have signed up to attend the camp in attempts to conquer their drug addictions.
Edmond Oliphant, better known as ‘Etties’ (38) explained how his drug addiction started and why he wanted to change. He started experimenting with drugs at the tender age of 10 and would remain in the grip of addiction for 28 years.
He said,“ I’ve done all the drugs that you can think of. It works on my emotions, whatever you are, it touches. I almost died, I smoked the hell out of my system and ended up in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and until this day I don’t know why I’m doing it.”
Sleepless nights, waking up to cold sweats and mood swings are just a few of the withdrawal symptoms which Oliphant experiences. “My wife kicked me out, now I’m alone which is worse, because it’s easy for the guys to knock and say, ‘Let’s go smoke’.
There’s no authority in my life. I can tell myself today that I’m going to leave drugs but then tomorrow when I wake up, I have a different mindset and I’m going to forget what I told myself before.
At the end of the day, I’m going to take a walk to the merchant and spend the money that I’m supposed to spend on my children,” he said.
According to Oliphant, the main reason driving him to change is his eight-year-old son who has been pleading with him to stop using drugs over the last few years.
Oliphant explained that his son’s words are: “Daddy, you’re being stupid again, see there, you’re going to act like a fool again”.
He now tries to keep busy in the upholstery trade in a valiant attempt to stay away from the drugs and he has taught two teenaged boys-also addicted to drugs, the ins and outs of the trade.
He’s trying to become their mentor because he can relate to their stories. Oliphant explained how good the 16-year-old boy was at the craft, saying that he was a fast learner whose steady path to recovery could only be halted if he continued succumbing to the lure of drug use.
“I’m a dagga smoker, I started smoking last year. It affects your brain. You can’t think straight, you act childish and things like that. Now I’m tired of it and I want to go to rehab. I want to change because if I continue like this I will never come right,” the 16-year-old said.
Oliphant said, “My ultimate conclusion is that the situation will be better if I can make a change. Watch me, after the rehab, I’m not going to be buying takkies anymore, I’m going to buy myself a pair of formal shoes and you’re going to see the change in my life.
“You will be proud of me. I know that I can do better, I’ve done so many things in my life, disappointed my parents, they want nothing to do with me. I just need an opportunity to prove myself, that’s all I’m asking for.
After returning from rehab, we can start a business and I can teach more children to learn this trade. If there were jobs here, there would be less crime, believe you me”.
There are much more in the community with similar stories. Sipho Masigo the founder of 1912 Online Radio said that the missionary camp was free and that they were looking to raise R80 000 to cover the travel costs for 100 youngsters.
This amount includes the bus fare of R 375 per person and they would also like to send them off with toiletries. The youngsters need to be registered voters (any political party) and must be 18 years or older.
They are still accepting people willing to go to the rehabilitation facility, the only delay is raising the transport funds.
If you are interested in the programme or are willing to contribute to it, please call Bernice Dolly on 073 961 3525 or email 1912online@gmail.com
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