ISSUEA AT STAKE: Families cannot escape ravages of drug addiction

A FORMER drug addict last week spilled the beans on the latest drug craze called ‘purple drink’ or ‘dirty sprite’, which is a home brew concocted from over the counter medication.

It contains the opiate codeine and other ingredients commonly available in households.

The poisonous cocktail is the latest on the local narcotics menu, with the difference that it does not contain any illegal substances.

Although codeine is regulated in South Africa, no prescription is needed to make the first batch and get an experimenting teenager on the road to full-blown addiction.

Although there is a strong correlation between substance abuse and dysfunctional families, there is also a significant percentage of drug addicts born into loving households with high moral values.

Their loved ones are left grappling with burning questions: Where did things go wrong? Who is to blame? What could have been done to prevent it in the first place?

The Zululand Observer is sporadically approached with cries for help from family members suffering under the habits of an addict, which threaten to destroy meaningful relationships, mutual trust and respect and eventually the family unit itself.

Families often deal with substance abuse by bending the truth, manipulating situations or denying the problem to keep a facade of normality for their own sake and to avoid social embarrassment.

But, as the situation spirals into financial hardship, unemployment, dishonesty, depression and crime, it becomes harder and harder to keep the mask in place.

Loved ones become part of a never-ending cycle of an addict’s internal frustrations, obsessions, loss of control, repentance, promises to change and short periods of peace – just to repeat the whole cycle.

Addicts are masters at denying the problem, rationalizing their conduct and minimizing the extent of the damage they are causing, mostly until they hit rock bottom repeatedly and have no alternative but to seek help.

Sometimes death comes before rehabilitation.

Addiction has no good outcome and will not go away on its own.

Neither is it just a phase a person is going through. Substance abuse physically changes the functioning of the brain, which is why professional help is crucial.

The quicker the family faces the truth and speak honestly about how every member is impacted, the sooner the situation can be dealt with with all family members united in their efforts.

Actively seeking help, counselling and advice from experts are the only options available to escape the clutches of addiction.

There is a time for tough love, when the addict’s choice not to change and cooperate with interventions, impacts the rest of the family so adversely, that they have no choice but to turn away from the person to preserve their own life and dignity.

But this is the last option to be taken.