peter
In the beginning
I thought I had it all under control
One puff, one sip, one jab
Just to lift my spirit up.
Yet little did I know that
Those little things will go
A long way in destroying my life.
My friends used to cheer me up
Whenever I take drugs and substances.
We used to fool each other that
Cocaine, heroine, marijuana
And all the other harmful substances
Are a good way of making us escape, from reality?
Not at all.
Now, all my friends are nowhere to be seen
I’m now all alone, suffering
Trying to find reality and meaning of my life
I try hard not to take drugs
But just a few minutes without them
My body becomes itchy,
I feel agonising pain in my body
Everything just becomes unbearable
Somebody please save me from myself.
This is a cry of a little child, who is trapped under the influence.
Drugs are harmful, I know.
I wish I could turn back the hands of time
Go back to being the innocent me
But drugs have taken away my future
I know longer see the need to go to school
Solitude is now my master
I’m now a slave of my past.
It is indeed true that
In the beginning, we make our habits,
But in the end, our habits make us.
Joseph Jele is part of a youth-led movement that supports drug addicts through peer support and rehabilitation around schools in high-density suburbs in Bulawayo. The main aim is to amplify young people’s voices, in particular those in school.
The column is themed on issues that affect the youth in school, their experiences and how they navigate the journey of life. The broader vision being to nurture the youth and also have them tell the nation of their experiences.
In so doing, we are bringing up a generation of young people that are able to lead morally upright lives.
We want the children to open up and tell it as it is, on their everyday lives. The solution lies with them as well. They must to be the ones who dialogue with the nation, to that effect we wish to engage secondary schools and tertiary institutions in the region.
We want young people to be part of the conversations around their lives. Most importantly, we want to help assist parents and guardians to connect with learners from a position of knowledge.
Do you have a story to share on drug and substance abuse among the youth? Send to: [email protected] / [email protected] /WhatsApp: 0773481603.
Online Reporter