‘You will do things you regret’
Words like: ‘It chase away everything you love’, and ‘there is no turning back’, ‘you will do things you regret’, ripples through you when you look at Jabu, Colin and Mike.
Words like: ‘It chase away everything you love’, and ‘there is no turning back’, ‘you will do things you regret’, ripples through you when you look at Jabu, Colin and Mike.
They are recovering addicts and for Colin and Mike the feeling of ‘being clean’ is still brand new. They nipped the habit in the bud about two months ago and said that they will never go back to that life.
Jabu has been recovering from using dagga and heroin for two years. When he was asked what he’s been doing the past two years, he said:
“I am helping SANCA with campaigns. I am still looking for work.”
Mike was up first with his story.
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“I was living at the road and sleeping there. In Tasbet Park. I was using this stuff for four years and these people took me to SANCA, where the process started. It’s not good being there and to smoke that thing. It is better now. Being with these people keeps my mind away from that smoking thing. I need a job that will keep me busy. This thing is too bad. And the situation is too bad.”
Mike’s been clean for two months and described the feeling as pure joy. He dished out advice for other users.
“Now is much better. There is no pain. Life is not a shortcut. This is not good. You will do things you regret.”
Jabu, Colin and Mike.
Colin told his story of being an addict for roughly 20 years.
“I live with my parents. I started when I was about 16 or 17. I am 36 now. That stuff is not good. I feel better now and I take a good step. I just need a job, I don’t have anything. I was fed up and the life is not good. Your parents don’t trust you anymore. Now they give me trust and I need a job to settle everything. I have to keep my mind busy. With this thing you will not live a good life.”
Jabu lives in Hlanikahle. He said that his dagga and heroin addiction started around 2006.
“My life was a mess. I stay with my parents and just decided two years ago that I am done. I help SANCA now and this life is good. If you are a smoker, no one can trust you.”
All three of them ended up in jail. They were asked that if they had not used these substances, would they have ended up there. All three answered as one: ‘No’.
