No future for nyaope users

A former nyaope addict said the drug makes life stagnant.

Okuhle Yengwa started smoking nyaope in 2008, when he was in grade 12.

He said his parents rented a room for him in Yeoville.

“That is where I started to have friends over who I would drink liquor and smoke with. I started smoking dagga with them. We soon switched to smoking nyaope. I became addicted. I would go with them to steal from others to get money for a fix,” he said.

His parents were spending more time in Pretoria, while he would be in Yeoville.

“That was when I started stealing from my parents. When I saw two washing powders at home I would take one. I would sell it for one nyaope fix. That made my parents angry. The only parts of the house I was allowed in at home were my room and the kitchen. Even the fridge would be locked when I was at home because even the braai pack might be stolen for nyaope,” he said.

He said addicts cannot do anything before they get the fix.

“When you wake up you are weak. You cannot do anything. Your body is aching and heavy. You cannot do anything and only hope to get the fix. Then you can go and make money for the next fix. You are just living for the next fix,” said Okuhle.

Okuhle said there are people who are always willing to buy from nyaope addicts.

“There was a woman in Yeoville we would sell things to. She would buy anything, even expired food,” he said.

Okuhle said has been clean for a month and he is determined to stay clean.

“Once you tell yourself you want to stop, you will. You can go to the rehabilitation centres but if you have not told yourself you must stay off drugs, you will relapse,” he said.

He stopped using nyaope after he saw his friend give up the drug without any assistance from a rehabilitating centre.

Okuhle keeps busy by working at a car wash.

“You cannot say you want to stop smoking by just doing nothing. You will be bored and you will relapse. Find something to keep you busy,” Okuhle said.

Many of his friends relapsed after receiving treatment at rehabilitation centres.

“They have nothing to come back to and then they starting using again,” he said.

Constable Lindiwe Soffie Pile, from the social crime prevention unit at the Yeoville SAPS, commended Okuhle for staying clean.

She said she still vividly remembers the day she saw him for the first time.

“He was struggling to talk. He told me he had smoked nyaope and that is why he could not speak. He said his family had disowned him. His skin was rough and he was thin, but today even his skin shows life,” she said.

Const Pile said listening to the addicts she interacts with, has helped most of them.

“They need any supports they can get. Even their friends and families no longer trust them because of what they have done as addicts. We give them any support we can. Some stop smoking like Okuhle, but some don’t,” she said.

She said it is not easy give up nyaope.

Those in need of help can contact the Yeoville SAPS on 011 487-5922.