Addictions can be overcome

After facing various trials and tribulations throughout her life, mid-South Coast local Deborah Nontokozo Mdletshe, wishes to pass the message of hope to the community proving that there can be a rainbow after a storm, if you simply have faith and strive for better days.

This comes after Deborah’s long-standing history with her family and how addiction controlled their lives. The young woman grew up in the Amahlongwa area and lost her father to alcoholism.

“My father was an alcoholic and died because he tried to cross the Amahlongwa river in a drunken state,” she said.

“This affected my life a lot, and to add to it, my mother has a gambling addiction so I really didn’t have people to see to me.”

Deborah stated there was a time where she went the whole month without proper food because her mother gambled away her salary. When Deborah decided to get a job of her own to improve their home situation, she discovered that one of her brothers started stealing from their own house to support his drug addiction.

She also has another brother who is believed to be mentally challenged, that steals from the house.

“I am the only one who is clean and sober,” she said.

Through her faith and continuous struggles, Deborah was able to find a supportive family that has taken her in. She has also found a second home at local non-profit, Laqhakaza Iphara Recovery where she has learnt about addictions and recovery.

“I believe that I am a child of God, because He has kept me alive and safe after everything I’ve endured, more than I have shared in my story.”

Once she developed a relationship with the recovery organisation, she learnt what an addict is, the disease of addiction, symptoms and solutions, and she helped put her brother on the right path.

“At least one family member is getting better now. My brother has stopped using heroin for almost seven months, and I understand my mom better and try to help her too.”

“My home is getting better, but I am still looking for help for my mentally challenged brother.”
After her interest with the recovery organisation and seeing proof that recovery is possible, Deborah became a leader of the sister fellowship of Laqhakaza Iphara Recovery.

This fellowship consists of a place for those who live with addicts and alcoholics at home, where they use the 12 step programme to heal in all areas of life, emotionally, mentally, spiritual and physically to be able to assist those in need.

The sister fellowship ministry lead by Deborah, will travel around the South Coast in hopes of helping people in similar situations realise that no matter what you are facing, recovery is possible.

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