HOOP

All over the world we face an alarming problem within society.  Drug abuse and the effects it has on family, friends and on the individuals caught up in it is one of the fastest growing defects in society.

 

I’ve been a drug user for 13 years and I am able to speak first hand out of my own experience regarding the effects it has on people’s lives.

The most common drugs used in South Africa would be: Methamphetamines (also known locally as “TIK” and “Crystal Meth”, Heroin, Mandrax, Ecstasy, LSD and Marijuana.

Drug addiction has a major impact on our society as it has a ripple effect. One person’s addiction can lead to another person’s pain and suffering which in turn affects all those around them.

 

From a personal view point, when suffering from drug addiction the addict finds himself/herself isolated and feels as if all is lost.  Isolation is a symptom from all drugs as some of them are “downers” which puts the body in a lame state and isolates immediately, and others are “uppers” which gives a euphoric high and makes the person extremely social but when it wears off, the body goes into withdrawal and crashes.  Being sneaky would become common as hiding the usage would lead to isolation as well.   

In South Africa drug addiction has no preference between poor and rich, all classes of society are affected by these addictions and it’s a growing problem all over. In the most densely populated areas more drug addiction cases are dealt with as these would be the poorer communities riddled with gang activity and distribution of illegal substances.  

 

Many children who get caught up in drug addiction begin by turning to gangs as a result of coming out of broken homes in which in most cases the father is a gang member or is serving a sentence in prison.  As a result of there not being a bread winner in the house, poverty becomes a major issue and because there’s no father figure, the children look for direction and find acceptance in the brotherhood of the gangs. Gang activities would include stealing, breaking into houses and businesses, drug distribution and murder.

 

Although this is a huge problem in South Africa, not everyone who has a drug addiction is necessarily a gang member.  Drug addiction can be very innocently introduced as a once off opportunity to try it out. Unfortunately for most people, just that one time is enough to want to do it again which leads to a life of turmoil and suffering. 

 

The use of drugs in most cases would be in order to escape one’s reality and mask emotions that are stirred up internally.  Through a process of dealing with these emotions as well as understanding who we are to God, the addict is able to be set free for life.  My belief is that through the encountering and revelation of Jesus, drug addiction is broken and the gap is filled with the love of God through His Holy Spirit.  

 

At the moment I’m involved as a volunteer at a drug rehabilitation centre that houses between 20 and 30 individuals at a time.  Hearing the stories of their past is eye opening in getting more understanding on what’s actually going on in the different communities around, but seeing the process of change in these individuals lives gives me hope for a better tomorrow.