DARE TO CARE.
CTDCC is the slice of heaven we all need.
By Lisalee Solomons
The formidable team that heads up the Mitchell’s Plain branch of The Cape Town Drug counselling centre.
It’s no secret that drugs has
taken over the world with its deadly effect that it has on the human body. You
can basically find your drug of choice on any street corner in any area. One of
the most common addictions in South Africa is the common use of drugs. Even
your average Joe who you would think would never even partake of this
addictive exercise because ‘ his parents raised him right’ has somehow
been introduced by the deadly drug that has taken over many peoples lives.
Now, it might be new to many
peoples ears, but the Cape Town Drug Counselling Centre has been around since
1985, which is a very long time considering that we are in a whole new decade
of years. The CTDCC not only boasts
rehabilitation and counselling for drug addicts, but also help those that are
battling with alcohol addiction. These are very difficult topics to talk about
in any family, because not only does the addiction affect those close to us,
but it’s exceptionally hard to watch a family member or friend deteriorate due
to drugs.
Picture supplied from The
Cape Town Drug Counselling Centre website (http://drugcentre.org.za/depressants/Alcohol)
Well some of us consume alcohol in moderate
consumption, others rely on it daily, sometimes every hour. Alcohol addiction is
as serious as drug addiction and in some cases can result in death. It is a
liquid fermented with starches that makes the body function at a slow pace and
can result in one loosing their co-ordination and judgment.
According to the CTDCC these are the symptoms
one should look out for in alcohol addicts.
Symptoms Of Alcohol Abuse:
·
Trembling Hands
·
Hangover
·
Vomiting and Nausea
·
Loss of appetite
·
Smell of alcohol on the user’s clothes or
breath
·
Chewing gum, breath mints and freshener
·
Hiding alcohol
·
Withdrawn secretive behaviour – lying about
drinking and the amount used, creating excuses to drink, and feeling anxious,
defensive or guilty when the user is questioned about his/her drinking.
·
Impaired co-ordination e.g. staggering walk
·
Slowed reflexes e.g. slurred speech
·
Decrease in concentration
What Are The Effects Of Alcohol?
·
Relaxation – relieves anxiety and tension
·
Impaired judgement and loss of inhibition –
the user will become adventurous and not think about the reasoning behind
things.
·
False confidence – the user becomes more
sociable and talkative
·
Drowsiness
·
Initially the user will feel a happy ‘buzz’
once they have had a few drinks. As they continue to drink more they may become
depressed
·
Double vision (Seeing two of everything) and
not being able to judge distance
·
Aggression that could lead to violence
·
Confusion
·
Drunkenness
What Are The Long-Term Effects?
·
Addiction – tolerance is built up quickly.
This means that the user will have to drink more than before to get drunk. This
causes a dependence on alcohol.
·
High blood pressure
·
Damage to the brain, heart, kidneys, liver
and pancreas
·
Blackouts and memory loss
·
Stomach ulcers (sores develop in the
With qualified social workers
and professional people working within the different branch facilities of the
CTDCC, you can be guaranteed to me made felt like family. Yes of course the
road to recovery is definitely not an easy one, and in most cases these addicts
don’t have any family members to fall back on, but the CTDCC is determined to
get you back on to your feet and living the best life you are able to live without
having to turn to the drugs and alcohol to fill the void you trying to avoid.
Picture curtesy of Google/
iol
Most drug addicts will tell
you they started experiencing with weed (dagga) as its commonly known, and that
they were introduced to the drug by a friend and that is how it all escalated.
But surely everyone has the right to refuse the option of trying something new
out right? Well, its not that simple actually, peer pressure whether you an
adult or in your teens, it’s not always easy saying no, but what is it about
this drugs and alcohol addiction that has people wanting to destroy their life
by giving up everything they have for this addiction? We cannot answer that,
each one has their own reasons for doing what they do, and some might have
valid reasons, so who are we to judge? It just becomes so sad to see good
people throw their life away for this deadly addiction they cannot control no
matter how much they try and how much times they have been in rehab, at the end
of the day its an addicts choice whether they want to turn their life around
and accept help or if they want to live their life the ‘easy way out’.
CTDCC has seen many addicts
come and go from their centre, some make a full recovery as it states on their
website, some don’t make a full recovery and go back to living on the streets
smoking their drug of choice or consuming the alcohol that they want, but at the end of the day, they have a very
strong support structure at the Cape Town Drug Counselling Centre and social
workers wanting to help these addicts, but none can force an addict to come
clean, because at the end of the day that person that has an addiction doesn’t
seem to think he/she has an addiction, and they are the only ones that can make
then choice of wanting to turn their life around.
The Cape Flats is predominantly known for the drugs that one can get any time of the day or
night on any corner. Almost anyone staying on the Cape Flats can point you in
the direction of a merchants house or lead you into contact with someone they
know that can assist you in buying the drug you looking for. I’ve been living
in Mitchell’s Plain my whole life, and everyday I am amazed at how people are
selling drugs in almost every street in broad daylight! It’s become quite
‘normal’ to see that even children as young as 13 have resorted to the drug
life by either being addicted to some sort of drug or that are now selling
drugs to support their family, themselves or just chose to become this way inclined
and not care about a future that could await them. There are many reasons why
people choose to divulge in drugs and why they think this way is conducive for
them, we are in no position to judge and there is literally only so much we can
do for an addict that doesn’t want any help. Some drug or alcohol addicts have
become so use to this way of life, that they don’t wish to come out of it and
sadly don’t care what their addiction is doing to the family and friends they
have deserted.
According to The Cape Town
Drug Counselling Centre’s website, these are the signs we should look out for
should we suspect some strange behaviour in our loved ones:
Drug Info
-
Signs Of Using
Physical Changes
·
Weight loss, pale face, circles under eyes
·
Red eyes (or frequent use of eye drops)
·
Unexplained skin rashes
·
Persistent cough, frequent colds
·
Changes in sleep and/or eating patterns
·
Deterioration in personal hygiene
·
Odour of alcohol or other drugs
·
Obvious intoxication
Behavioural Change
·
Increased need and use of money
·
Quitting or getting fired from jobs
·
New friends, lying secretiveness, mysterious
phone calls
·
Attendance problems at work or school
·
Drop in performance at work or school
·
Accidents at work or school
·
Mood swings (e.g. angry outbursts, sadness/depression
or elated mood)
·
Verbal and/or physical abuse of family
members
·
Spending more time alone
·
Quitting hobbies or extracurricular
activities
·
Theft and missing valuables, alcohol or
medication
Items to Look for:
·
Alcohol and other
drugs in possession
·
Mouthwash, breath
sprays or eye drops
·
Thinners, tippex
or other solvents (indicates inhalant abuse)
·
Bank bags, rolling
papers (rizla, etc), broken glass bottle tops, pipes of various shapes and
sizes, pieces of tinfoil, mirrors, razor blades, small screens or burnt spoons
·
Seeds (from dagga
plants)
·
Incense burning
·
Burns or stains on
hands and clothing
These are just some of the
signs you should look out for should you suspect any family member or friend
might be experimenting in drugs, and as painful as it will be to discover and
speak about it with that person, we must also bare in mind that there is a
reason as to why they decided on this choice, so we need to approach the
subject with caution and with care.
The Cape Town Drug counselling centre has branches in Atlantis, Observatory and Mitchell’s Plain
and are proudly supported by the Department of
Social Development. If you know
of anyone suffering at the hands of addiction and want to get them help please
make contact with the following people/organisations below.
Narcotics Anonymous
0839006962 www.na.org.za
Alcoholics Anonymous
0861435722 www.aasouthafrica.org.za
NAR-ANON Family
support 0881296791 www.naranon.org.za
ALANON Family
support 0861252666 www.alanon.org.za
LIFELINE Emergency counselling
0214611111
Email info@drugcentre.org.za
Observatory: 0214478026
Mitchells Plain: 0213970103
Atlantis: 0215717180
You can also visit their
website www.drugcentre.org.za for
so much more information.
It’s never to late to
save a life.
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