Despite Tanya van Leeuwen seeing a lot of drug and physical abuse in her family, she started using drugs to cope with life. This resulted in her 20-year battle with addiction, which she said nearly destroyed her life.

Tanya, 40, who was born and bred in Durban, said she started smoking dagga at the age of 12. “I started doing drugs when I was 14, and the first time I used alcohol, I knew it would become a problem,” she said, stating that her life was in shambles.

“I have hit rock bottom many times; at one point I was even homeless and I did not have a relationship with my daughter,” said Tanya, who is now Life Esidimeni Recovery Centre Randfontein’s house mother.

The main issue, she said, was the failure to admit to being an addict and needing help for her alcohol abuse.

“I used to believe that admitting to being an addict made one sound weak.”

She said she eventually understood that those who want to recover, have to do for it themselves and nobody else.

“I got sick and tired of being sick and tired; I realised that it was important to seek help and admit that I have made a huge mess of my life.

“I was able to understand what had to be done. Unfortunately, it is not the case with everyone as some people will suffer much longer than others, especially if it is a long-term addiction,” Tanya said.

As house mother for the recovery centre she is determined to help women fight the habit as she believes herself to be the right person to do so, given her first-hand experience with drugs.

“I cannot imagine my life without this job; I love what I am doing. I also have a strong relationship with the patients, simply because I can relate to the journey the addicts are on.”

She believes many young people experiment with drugs without realising the consequences.

“Everyone thinks it will never happen to them, until they are seriously hooked and need help,” Tanya added.