‘It is never too late to clean up your act’
Fast life and peer pressure led to recovering addict Phillip ‘Pjones’ Mohlakeng to relapse and started using drugs after seven years of being clean.
KwaThema – In December, the 24-year-old musician and actor succumbed to peer pressure and sniffed cocaine after years of being clean.
Pjones was recently discharged from a six-month rehabilitation programme in Brakpan.
Pjones has now dedicated his life to encouraging recovering and other addicts not to give up in the fight to remain clean.
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“As addicts we are often judged and discouraged when we want to rehabilitate ourselves.
“I started experimenting with drugs in 2010 and a year later I decided to go to rehab.
“I have through the years been clean and only relapsed in December when I got mixed up with the wrong crowd,” he says.
“I succumbed to peer pressure and started using cocaine,” he explains.
Pjones says he was trying to fit in with friends and keep up with his music career, which was taking off.
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“I thought I would be able to control the addiction and would stop when I felt I was losing control.
“A few months later I was deep into drugs again and spent my cheque to feed my addiction.
“I decided to get myself admitted to a rehabilitation centre,” he adds.
“It hasn’t been an easy journey, but I treasure each day that goes by without relapsing.
“There are many obstacles because I am back in the same environment. I am motivated by the support of my family.
“I am encouraging others to seek help.
“It is never too late when you are still given an opportunity to wake up the following morning,” he says.
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