What often begins as experimentation can quickly spiral into years of addiction, emotional turmoil and broken relationships.

Former drug addict Keith Hay recently shared his personal journey with the Krugersdorp News. After three decades of substance abuse, he hopes his story will shed light on the reality of addiction and the long road to recovery.

Over the years, Hay used a range of substances, including cocaine, crystal meth, rocks, mandrax, heroin and cat.

He said it all started with experimentation, which gradually became a way of suppressing difficult emotions.

“It used to be a fun experience with your mates over a weekend, but before you know it, you would constantly be using,” he said.

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Life as an addict

Hay described drug use as creating a sense of emotional numbness, allowing him to escape feelings he was trying to avoid, particularly stress and anxiety.

He said addiction is a destructive lifestyle in which one form of suffering is simply replaced by another.

“The worst drug I used was rocks because it is the most addictive. You burn through it so fast that you would do anything for your next hit. I eventually started replacing it with crystal meth,” he said.

Despite his addiction, Hay said he remained employed and was able to function in the workplace for many years.

“I could still go to work and get the job done. I was a good employee. However, the binge stages I had caused problems. It caused a loss of control, which made me unreliable and was my downfall.”

He added that addiction affects not only the individual but also those around them, as the company an addict keeps can damage relationships and reputations.

The road to recovery

Hay said his turning point came when he saw the emotional distress on his daughter’s face, describing it as one of the most painful moments of his addiction.

“To escape addiction is not an easy thing. The withdrawals were not necessarily from the drugs, but also from facing the truth,” he said.

He later attended rehabilitation, where he began learning about God. Hay believes his faith played a central role in his recovery.

He emphasised that recovery is a gradual process. Although he has been in recovery for five years, he has been drug-free for the past two.

“For those wishing to recover, it is a choice, a firm choice. When you start following God, everything else will fall into place,” he concluded.