‘The impossible is possible’ – says recovered nyaope addict

Mr Thulani Mthimunye (26) is confident that he has recovered from nyaope addiction after he stayed sober for nine months at Makeke Drug Addicted Centre.

Also read: What you should know about nyaope

Mr Mthimunye celebrated as a recovered addict together with other young people going through recovery at Makeke Drug Addiction Centre’s graduation recently.

The Ethafeni-based man said nyaope destroyed his life for several years after he lost his mother.

“I started smoking nyaope after I lost my mother at the age of 17. I was raised by a single parent and life was challenging. My mom’s death affected me deeply and I was extremely scared to face the world alone,” he said.

Mr Mthimunye said he was introduced to drugs by friends on the street.

Also read: Nyaope victims appeal for help, support

“By then I was smoking dagga. After I tasted nyaope, I felt sharp and I thought the drug was the best because every time I smoked it, I did not stress so much – I did not realise that I was falling for the addiction. I was using the drug to escape my personal problems,” said Mr Mthimunye.

Mr Mthimunye said when he no longer had money to maintain the addiction, he started stealing and sold the items to feed the habit.

“When I did not have anything to sell, I worked odd jobs for people in the community and I was able to buy the drugs. I even sold the drug myself. People started fighting with me for selling drugs and I was assaulted by community members twice and ended up in hospital. However, I did not refrain from selling the drug because it was bringing in lots of money,” said Mr Mthimunye.

When asked why he decided to go for rehabilitation, he said his grandmother sat him down and talked sense into his head.

“My grandmother is the one person who introduced me to Makeke Centre. I was also tired of depending on the drugs because I did not care about my life.

“I did not care whether I was dirty and did not bath or eat – to me these things were pointless. The worst part was that I have a six-year-old child but I never thought about her. All I cared about was how I could make money so that I could buy nyaope.

“It was always spinning in my head,” said Mr Mthimunye.

He is confident that he has conquered his addiction and is ready to face the real world and make it up to his child.

His message to other addicts is to consider counselling and rehabilitation centres because they cannot succeed alone in resisting the drug.

“It is hard to refrain from doing something that you’ve been relying on for quite some time. I say – go for counselling and register with a rehabilitation centre before this monster destroys your life for good. I know it is hard as I’ve been there but try hard. Make the impossible, possible,” said Mr Mthimunye.