The journey to recovery

After battling with alcohol and drug addiction for more than 30 years, Ron Naidu of Tongaat has now dedicated his life to fighting the disease and shattering the stereotype associated with it.

The 43-year-old father’s addiction was, he says, spurred by sexual abuse that began at the age of 13.

His addiction started with consuming alcohol and he later found himself using illicit drugs.

As a result of his addiction, Naidu lost his family, friends and home before he decided that enough was enough.

“I was molested by an older woman in our neighbourhood in Bufflesdale, Tongaat from the age of 13 and because of that I struggled to understand the meaning of love. I was too young to understand what was happening. I would bunk school and sleep over at her house and it was not a problem because her husband knew about it.

“This was around the time when I turned to drinking alcohol and taking drugs like marijuana. I turned into a very rebellious and angry child and I would fight with my parents and siblings.

“To me, I always associated alcohol and drugs with a woman and when I saw a woman, my intention was always to bed her.”

At the age of 21, Naidu made his girlfriend pregnant but was hesitant to take responsibility for his unborn son. After pressure from his family, he decided to marry but his addiction only grew worse.

“I was unable to keep a job and my wife had to always work to support the house. We then had another child, my daughter, but nothing changed for me. I got addicted to hardcore drugs and like cocaine, heroin and matrix and I was also cheating on my wife with prostitutes. I was a devil in the house and my family hated me.

“There were times when I would kick them out of the house in the middle of the night without any care of where they would go to. I would also disappear for days on a drinking binge. My children never called me dad and my son was forced to take on the responsibility of being the man of the house. I robbed my children of a father, of their childhood and my wife of a home and a husband.”

Also read: Fighting the good fight

It was only after his wife kicked him out of his home and his immediate family disowned him did Naidu realise the effect his addiction had on his family.

“Alcoholics are great manipulators and when everyone disowned me I thought of committing suicide, not to die but to get attention. I realised on Father’s Day in 2015 how miserable I had made everyone and just how alone I was. That was my rock bottom and also the solid foundation that my recovery was based on.”

After three months in rehab, Naidu has been clean of drugs and alcohol for three years. He has since made peace with his family and is working on his marriage, his relationship with his children and on rebuilding his business.

He has also dedicating his life to helping people and families who suffer with or who is affected by alcoholism or drug addiction.

“Some people are too proud to seek help or they think that addiction only affects a certain type of person, a certain race or a certain class. I believe that I am now free and I used my five pillars, God, meetings, step work, sponsors and service to achieve my goal. I want people to know that there is a way out but they have to be honest with themselves and open minded to suggestions on how to fight the addiction.”

For advice contact Ron at 078 592 4085.

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