Drug recovery support group launched
The founder of Phara 2 Paradise described drug addiction as brutal saying that young people are seen daily walking up the road carrying sugarcane and scrap metals to sell because of their addiction.
Drug addiction does not end when a person has been discharged from a rehabilitation centre.
Bongumusa Zulu, the founder of the Phara 2 Paradise organisation, recently shared this sentiment.
Zulu said the battle against drug addiction is one that a person has to fight until they die.
He was speaking at the launch of the organisation’s recovery support group in Okhalweni, Gamalakhe, last Thursday.
It was attended by Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM) mayor Zodwa Mzindle, representatives from the Saps, Department of Social Development, local youth structures and more.
Zulu, who struggled with drug addiction for 13 years, has been sober for three years.
“I do not drink or smoke. But even if it’s 50 years without smoking, it does not mean I have recovered. I have to fight this until I die because addiction is something you need to fight for the rest of your life,” said Zulu.
He explained that he needed to start the recovery group because when a person comes back into society from rehab, they still need all the support they can get so that they do not relapse.
He described addiction as brutal, saying that young people are seen daily walking up the road carrying sugarcane and scrap metal to sell because of their addiction.
“When a person goes to rehab, people think he will come back free from drugs, but that is not the case; it’s only the beginning. When a person returns from rehab, their lives have changed. That is why we are launching the support group so that they can attend for as long as they need because this is a fight you fight until you die,” he said.
He also explained that when people want to get help with their drug addiction, they are sent to the Sitholimpilo Rehab Centre in Murchison.
He added that after being rehabilitated, they can attend the support group to stay off drugs.
Meanwhile, Siphelele Cele of Ray Nkonyeni Municipality’s youth office said they support such initiatives by young people.
He said judging from the population statistics of RNM, the area is dominated by young people.
“This is a youthful municipality, so RNM must make sure that programmes by young people such as this one are supported financially. As the youth office, we support programmes that fight against crime as it leads to bigger issues in our community. This is why young people need to be employed and supported in sports. Sports keeps you busy and disciplined,” he said.
He added that they also support the fight against undocumented foreign nationals.
“Recently, in Durban, over 100 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested for owning illegal firearms and drugs. That is why we support the police in this,” he said.
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