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Mthandazo Ndlovu
THERE are varied truths, beliefs and myths when it comes to the issue of drug, alcohol and substance abuse addiction. There are also specific descriptions to try and make one addiction better than the other or to classify individuals according to their dependency on drugs, alcohol and substances of abuse.
To me there is hardly any sign or an indicator that one needs help. We have seen high profile people stripped of their dignity because of dependency on either alcohol, drugs or substances of abuse.
The often false, painful and confusing narrative of a person who becomes addictive is at the centre of debate. For many years addiction was seen as a problem of the inner city, or the morally weak, while our brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers were perishing in the rural areas as they were addicted to home brews that are highly toxic, or dependant on mbanje.
Worse more, when a person did not fit this narrative, they were labelled with different terms, like “functional binge drinker” or alcoholic.
These are the terms used to explain why one did not fit the stereotype of a drug addict.
Claiming someone is functional explains why some individuals continue to work and hold jobs while actively using alcohol, drugs and other substances of abuse. Binge drinker was used to try and explain why some people do not always need to drink; instead they only drank in binges.
The term alcoholic was used to separate the more socially acceptable users of alcohol from those that used hard drugs like heroine. Certainly there could have been other reasons for these terms, other differences, but they also supported the narrative that drug addiction resulted from a moral deficit.
There is usually a basic concept a person has when they start taking drugs or alcohol. They usually think that their intake will solve their problems, but what they don’t anticipate is that it will cause more problems for them, emotionally, financially and physically in terms of health.
Some drugs that people have exposed themselves to, that they cannot come out of and are now totally hooked on are and include:
– Alcohol, which people take on the pretence of wanting to relax or ease their mind, mainly driven by the peer pressure of marketing styles used by the manufacturers.
– Prescription opioids, marketed as a quick fix to physical pain and discomfort, but they never fix the source of the pain, they just musk it.
– Methamphetamine, when people use meth it causes a large release of the dopamine within the brain that feel good chemical which causes them to have a rush of euphoria. Sounds good, but what they are not aware of are the side effects, the habit forming aspects or that good feelings become more elusive when one uses.
There is no safe description of dependency, whatever term they give it, seek help from a professional and end the cycle before it ends you.
For help and more information call or WhatsApp +263772399734 or email [email protected]. Drug Prevention and Rehabilitation Specialist, Addictions Counsellor, Adolescent Counsellor, Professional Counsellor.
Online Reporter