A mother’s pain and struggle to find help for her drug addict son inspired her to open a recovery centre where families and recovering addicts can receive support and care.

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Lucille Pienaar’s story is one of many stories of parents who still have faith and want to help their children fight drug addiction.

Her lifelong struggle with her son’s addiction made her empower herself with information and look at what parents need to help them survive the struggle with drugs.

“Many parents are afraid or embarrassed to share their stories or tell people about the level of abuse they go through from their drug addict children. I went through it and I know how difficult it can be because as parents, we can even be in denial at first until we accept and start looking for solutions of how to get help,” said Lucille.

She will be opening a rehab centre in Germiston in April.

The centre will offer stay-in facilities, support, treatment and specialised aftercare.

“This centre was inspired by my son because through him, I have learned a lot about drug addiction and saw how all the different treatments and rehabs I have sent him to helped and how they can be improved. Around the Germiston area, there is no centre that offers this type of service.”

Lucille is a nurse by qualification and said drug addiction is a complex issue that has layers.

“There are many elements that you need to work on when dealing with an addict. The addiction affects everyone involved including the addict because so much gets taken away from family and friends. Sometimes, parents even cut off their children,” said Lucille.

Her journey with drug addiction started 16 years ago.

“My son has been on drugs since he was young and I have done everything that a parent can do to get him the help he needs. But drug addiction is not a short-term fixed solution. There is the care and support that is needed to ensure that there are no relapses. Life is never the same because so much happens. You end up feeling like you’re a ticking time bomb,” said Lucille.

She said through her experience, she hopes the centre will offer the type of help that will be long term and also offer the support that families need.

The centre will have a medical doctor, social worker, psychologist, nurse and specialist.

The centre will accept walk-ins, referrals and recommendations.

“I want the centre to be a place of hope for parents who have lost hope. It is heartbreaking when you see parents say I give up or I don’t know what to do or go anymore,” said Lucille.

She said she lived in fear for years until she took action to help other parents do the same.

“As a parent, you have mixed feelings and fear of what is to come next. For the longest time, I lived in fear until I took a stand and find help for my son, and I want other parents to have that opportunity,” said Lucille.

The centre will be for boys only and will house up to 30 boys.

“We don’t have funding as we are still new. What we have so far is from my own pocket,” said Lucille.

The centre will be situated at the corner of Joubert and Kinross Street.

For more information, contact Lucille on 072 485 2981 or WhatsApp her on 065 322 4815.