Awareness campaign highlights destructive nature of drugs

“Drugs destroy” – The slogan for a recent drug awareness campaign hosted by the Witbank Muslim Jamaat and initiated by local residents that have seen the downward spiral of drugs first hand. Yusuf Bhamjee a former drug abuser took on the matter of educating and helping his community fight the scourge of drug abuse at its core.

The audience that attended the drug awareness event.

The children, communities and family influenced by drug abuse. The Crescent of Hope Rehab Centre in Magaliesburg cares for about 50 patients at any one time. They have partnered with local role players to make the campaign possible.

The centre manager and councillor Rafiq Mayet as well as recovering users from the centre spoke to the audience on Friday, October 14 and shared their experiences and stories which was eye opening for everyone that attended. A 13 year old girl who visited her father for the first time in years at the rehab centre after her father also spent time in jail for drug abuse told Rafiq that she can only remember the worst of her father. He never told her he loved her he never even gave her a hug. The father apparently did recover and is working on rebuilding relationships.

Yusuf said,

“The issue of drugs never just impacts the individual it is a spiral that leads to crime and kills relationships with family and your community to the point where it does not end in rock bottom it ends in either death or prison.”

Yusuf will be starting counselling groups

Born from this campaign the Crescent of Hope centre and the Witbank Muslim Jamaat run by Yusuf will be starting counselling groups that meet with users and families weekly to address underlining issues and asset recovery.

“You have to want to change, the mind set is so important to recovering. If you don’t want to get better it will be much more difficult for that person,” He said.

Colonel Roets from the SAPS was also present at the evening session to talk about crime statistics and the seriousness of the problem from a legal standpoint. For more information or to assist or need help contact Yusuf on 072 458 7426.

Drug abuse is a problem that affects everyone no matter what race, age, gender or creed and everyone is welcome to seek help.

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