Mother describes anguish over daughter’s drug habit
When her daughter overdosed, it was discovered she was spending close to R8 000 a month to support her and her boyfriend's drug habit, which consisted of cocaine and ecstasy.
A mother’s life has been left in a state of turmoil, her heart broken as she tries to help repair her daughter’s shattered life.
“Nothing is normal anymore. I can’t leave her alone for five minutes, and my life has come to a standstill,” she wept.
Jane* said she recently discovered her daughter was addicted to drugs.
“She was on drugs for three years, but I only found out on February 26, when she overdosed.”
Looking back, a distraught Jane described how she discovered her daughter’s habit.
“My phone was on silent and I woke up to see there were two missed calls from her. I called her back and it was then she cried and told me she was on drugs and had overdosed.”
Shocked to the core, Jane jumped out of bed and rushed to her daughter’s aid.
After getting medical assistance, the entire story came out.
“She got involved with drugs after she started dating her boyfriend, who was already taking drugs when they met.”
During the three years the couple were together, Jane said she, her daughter’s stepfather and her biological father were unaware of the habit.
“The only things we noticed was she was not taking care of herself; dressing shabbily, wearing the same clothes the whole time, and avoiding us.”
The family initially thought she was avoiding them due to a busy social life.
“At the time, she worked for her stepfather who noticed a decline in her work but nothing more. We also noticed she never had money, but thought she was spending it elsewhere.”
When her daughter overdosed, it was discovered she was spending close to R8 000 a month to support her and her boyfriend’s drug habit, which consisted of cocaine and ecstasy.
After taking her daughter to rehab, Jane said she hoped their nightmare had come to an end.
“We told her boyfriend to not contact her anymore, but he signed himself up in the same rehab as my daughter.”
Horrified that her daughter’s boyfriend would go to the extent of putting himself into rehab in order to maintain control of her daughter, the mother requested the couple be put in rooms in different wards to ensure all contact could be broken.
“He just would not leave her alone. He kept messaging her and myself. My husband eventually lost his temper and hit him.”
The boyfriend has now opened an assault case against the stepfather.
“He has also got an interdict against my husband and myself. I think he is hoping he can get my daughter to go back and will be able to control her, as an interdict would mean we can not go near him.”
While their daughter is on the road to recovery, Jane said the last two months have been turbulent.
“The last 66 days have been hell. I would not wish what my family went through on my worst enemy.”
Not only does Jane, her husband and ex-husband now have to help their daughter heal, the 22-year-old finds herself having to start her life again.
“She left her studies, lost all her friends, her job, everything. She follows me around the whole time. I will always support my daughter, but she is broken because of her experience.”
She is now encouraging other parents to be vigilant.
“While my daughter isn’t a child, try and follow your child’s finances, as this can be a giveaway. Avoiding family and friends can also be a sign, as is the way they look after themselves.”
* Not her real name.
