For Charlton Jones, addiction is not an abstract social problem discussed from a distance.

It is a chapter of his own life, one that began when he was 17 and continued for more than two decades before he finally found a path to recovery.

Today, as a marketing consultant at Tranquillity Home Rehabilitation Clinic, Jones uses his experience to help others understand that recovery is possible, and that rebuilding a life after addiction requires far more than simply stopping the use of drugs or alcohol.

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Jones began using drugs at 17 and continued until he was 41. Over the years, his substance use began to affect almost every part of his life.

He started missing work, household possessions disappeared, and debt accumulated as he struggled to finance his addiction. Eventually, Jones found himself living in a commune with little left except the job he was desperately trying to hold on to.

Then came a moment that would change the direction of his life. “I looked outside, and I saw a guy standing next to the robot, and I said, ‘There’s nothing different between me and that guy at the robot if I continue down this path’.”

He began attending Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and committed himself to the 12-step recovery programme. For a year, he attended a meeting every day. “That’s what gave me hope to recover and live a normal life, to become a respectable member of the public, and have a job, and look after my family.”

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Jones’ own experience has shaped the way he views rehabilitation. For him, recovery is not simply about overcoming substance dependence; it is about learning how to live differently and developing the tools needed to sustain a meaningful life after treatment.

One of the biggest challenges, he said, is employment. Many people recovering from addiction face difficulties securing work, particularly when they lack recent experience or marketable skills. Jones believes skills development should therefore form part of the rehabilitation journey.

His experience in recruitment has shown him just how competitive the job market can be.

“For one advert, you are getting about 800 to 1 200 people applying for one job. So, you’re in this maze. You’ve got to find a way of standing out.” For people in recovery, he argues, gaining new skills can provide more than an income. It can restore confidence, independence, and a sense of purpose.

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Looking back over the years, Jones said he has witnessed significant changes in South Africa’s drug landscape. He recalls a time when alcohol and marijuana were among the substances most commonly associated with addiction.

He said the range of drugs available expanded over time, with substances such as mandrax, cocaine, crystal methamphetamines, and heroin becoming increasingly prevalent. “The selection of drugs and the rate of addiction quite tripled.”

For Jones, tackling the problem requires more than policing and rehabilitation. Education and prevention, he believes, must begin at home. He believes children need strong support systems and values that can help them resist peer pressure and make informed choices when confronted with drugs or other risky behaviours.

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