‘I’m no longer a slave of drugs’ – Springs woman speaks up

She wishes she could forget the past seven years, when she was on drugs and almost ruined her life.

However, she was saved from drugs and feels better and healthier than ever before.

Ilana soon started experimenting with CAT after she realised Ecstasy, the energy drug, wasn’t good enough any more.

Her singing career was flourishing, and with all the drugs she was using to boost her energy levels, she managed to perform at two or three events in one night.

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“These drugs give you a high energy level, which helps you to cope and keeps you awake,” she says.

She always wanted to sing, but she soon realised that from time to time she would lose her voice during her performances.

Ilana started to lose weight, and soon couldn’t remember all the words to the songs she was singing.

“That pushed me to use even more drugs, to cope and try to remember the words to the songs,” she says.

The more she needed drugs, the more she became a thief, a liar and a manipulator, and she deceived many people, she explains.

Read: Confessions of a drug mule

But the craving for drugs increased, and one of her ex-boyfriends introduced her to heroin and crystal meth.

The effect heroin has on a person’s body scared her, and she decided to stick to crystal meth.

She considered quitting the habit in 2010, but soon realised it was too difficult a journey, until January 19, 2016.

“I was alone at home when Carrie Underwood’s song Jesus takes the Wheel was playing and this forced me to my knees.

“I cried and prayed for two hours, thinking I’m not worth saving due to what I have done.”

She says she then quit cold turkey and, with no withdrawal or side effects, has been clean for a year.

Her advice to other drug users is, “You cannot do this on your own”.

“Suddenly my life had a purpose, my finances started falling into place and I was back in demand for performances at events,” says Ilana.