By Jonk wa Mashamba
Editor-In-Chief
Kopano Pitso says he is more enthusiastic and optimistic about the future after having wrestled with drugs.
The 25-year-old from Tshepiso, Sharpeville, said that crystal meth nearly cost him his life, but he is pleased that with his mother’s help he was able to get help.
He said it is difficult to overcome the life of drugs if you don’t have a support structure especially from the family.
Pitso began drug experimentation in high school.
His first experiment was dagga before he graduated to Mandrax. He said after failing to complete his matric in 2017, he began to be even more frustrated.
In 2018, a friend introduced him to Crystal Meth, the drug he used until 2022, and then decided to seek help.
“I can’t believe that I was hooked into drugs just because of peer pressure, and that was the beginning of my problems. When I look back now, I am certainly not proud of myself,” Pitso said.
He said he realized when he was deep into drugs that the habit was tearing his family apart.
“And I was no longer the trusted person in my own home because I was stealing everything. I was sometimes not sleeping at home.
“And because we were young and not working, we were unable to fund our addiction. We had to start stealing things from our homes and family members. And later it escalated to stealing from the community.”
Pitso said the support came after Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced the government’s intention to step up its fight against drug addiction in the province.
His mother, Palesa Pitso, sought help from social workers on his behalf. She used the call centre that was established for parents who wanted their children to be taken for a treatment.
“I was one of the first group that was taken to the Dr Fabian & Florence Treatment Centre in Cullinan. I spent nine weeks at the centre which made a huge difference in my life.
“Being at the treatment centre has opened my eyes for many things through the help of the care workers at the center,” he said.
Pitso is now four months clean since he returned from the treatment centre and he is currently attending End-User Computing skills development at Kitso Information and Development Centre at his hometown of Sharpeville.
He has completed a life skills program which he says helps him cope effectively with the demands of daily living, even though he is unemployed.
He also completed Grade C, D and E security certificates since he returned from a successful rehabilitation process.
He says he’s looking to the future as he crosses his new drug-free path.
Since he returned from rehabilitation process, Pitso tries hard to turn his life around.
He even began a home garden for his mom where they produce green papers, cabbage and spinach.
He said that the garden is one of the activities that keeps him occupied and away from bad friends.