‘I would buy 10 heroin straws a day’

JULIAN* started taking drugs while at school.

He started experimenting with dagga at age 12 and soon switched to heroin.

Due to his habit, he could not remain focussed on his work and ended up leaving school after completing Grade 10.

“A straw of heroin costs about R20 and on average I would buy 10 a day (R200),” he said.

It reached a stage where he was stealing money from his frustrated family.

Today, Julian is 25-years-old, unemployed and desperately looking at turning his life around.

“I began going to rehab at a facility but the place was not run professionally. The users would arrive and just spend their time sitting around. It was a 28 day programme but I only spent three weeks there because it did not help me face my problems.”

So Julian quit and then began attending the Anti-Drug Forum.

“I live nearby and decided to come here for help. The staff here are friendly and the social workers are professional. We have group sessions, but if I want to speak to someone individually, they are there to listen and guide me.”

He said that since joining the programme three weeks ago, he was clean.

“They have random drug testing but I’m fine with that.”

Julian said he intended abiding by the rules and regulations of the programme – including attending the centre from 10am to 4pm daily.

“I will come here until I am strong enough to make it on my own and reach my goals,” he said.

He aspired to complete high school and get his driver’s licence.

Julian added that drugs were a menace in Chatsworth, with children as young as 15 being hooked on heroin.

* Not his real name.