Drugs committee launch Drug addicts to get help

The committee is made up of the members from the police, EMPD, the department of community safety, health workers and the local organisations fighting against drugs.

Committee’s communication and marketing officer, Thabang Xaba explained the role of the newly formed committee.

He said the committee is formed to provide the needed help to the families, communities and drugs addicts.

“Having people who can give help to drug addicts in all government departments and local organisations is the best way to fight against alcohol and drug abuse,” Xaba said.

He added that the committee believes that help related to drugs and alcohol use should be available at many institutions and not only at selected organisations.

Xaba appealed to the community of Kwatsaduza to use the committee to get help and invites them to educate the youth about drug abuse and share with them the information on how and where to get help when addicted to drugs.

Ntate Tholo (34) a recovering drug addict from KwaThema shared his story about the things that he used to do to feed his addiction.

He spent 13 years in prison after he was found guilty of armed robbery and theft.

“The addiction turned me into a criminal because the Mandrax drug that I took forced me to take it even if I did not have cash to buy it,” said Tholo.

He said the years that he spent in jail did not only rob him of the opportunities that he would have had to change his life for the better, but also robbed him of the chance to spend more time with his parents.

When Tholo got out from prison in 2005, he received the news that his parents and sisters died while he was still serving his sentence in prison.

“I have learnt the hard way that drugs destroy one’s future, do not make the mistake that I did but stay away from drugs,” advised Tholo.