Part 1
I travel South Africa, visiting schools, universities, colleges, and communities to present and discuss, with an audience, my presentation, suitably named “Understanding Addiction”. Along this journey I am made acutely aware of two largely unintended and understated problems, which are not being addressed with the importance or urgency that they merit; these being issued‘ Vaping’ and ‘Unprescribed Ritalin abuse.
I will begin with Vaping. As an addict in remission from my disease, I have over the years become fully aware of the who, the how, and the why I made the choices I did before, during, and after active addiction. Whatever the environments, circumstances, and traumas I experienced, I take full responsibility for those choices. That’s all well and good, but what I had no control over, apart from my active addiction, was what was contained within the substances I used, apart from what I thought I was buying, be that heroin, cocaine, crack, to mention only a few.
Most of the drugs I used were cut or augmented with an assortment of dangerous ingredients, including but not limited to, rat poison, laundry detergent, fentanyl, chloroform, oxycontin painkillers, meth, and xylocaine; all of which are remarkable and extremely dangerous, and can be lethal. Naïve and blissfully unaware of the dark intentions of those who peddled the products, I did not suspect that any persons would actively invoke such acts, and moreover, much less did I care once in full and active addiction.
Welcome to the underworld of unregulated products sold for profit by whatever means necessary, regardless of the consequences to the buyer and/or user. The illegal drug industry is there to make a profit from vulnerable or sick people. The people behind the product don’t care about the consequences to the user, they want the cash, and in bundles, and to do that they want you addicted to their product. The very worst type of drug dealer was the one who didn’t use themselves, making a lucrative living from selling lethal merchandise. Today there is a dark and dangerous similarity in vaping, the associated products, and the people behind them.
"Vape to Heroin"
East Coast Radio presenter Jane Linley-Thomas.
In an exclusive interview with Jane, a mother from the Upper Highway area has candidly spoken up about how her son got addicted to heroin unknowingly, and how he went from being someone she loved to someone completely different. He was a 15-year-old boy from an ordinary home in the Upper Highway area. He was home-schooled, obsessed with animals, and mountain bike riding. Now he's sitting in a rehab facility after being addicted to heroin - an addiction he was unaware of.
"Groomed, harmed, and even killed."
Children as young as nine are sucked into drug dealing and violence.
First and foremost, vape use is completely unregulated. The product does not have to show what is in the vape liquid, which means almost anything can be added to the fruit-flavored vape liquid. The underworld and drug syndicates are aware of this and so can and do add any ingredient that will lead to a habit and active addiction. It's so easy! It is sold as a relatively harmless alternative to smoking cigarettes. At least cigarettes are regulated and I know exactly what is in a cigarette: paper, filter, sugar, tar, nicotine, and a sprinkle of cyanide to help the tobacco burn, so one can make a choice to smoke or not, knowing the dangers.
For example, the most recent addictive additive to vape liquid goes by the names “Skellies” or “Wiz” which is sold on the internet.
"Skellies/lekker”
gets u tripping but isn’t THC
National Institute on Drug Abuse warns:
“Synthetic cannabinoid products are often labeled "not for human consumption." Labels also often claim that they contain natural material taken from a variety of plants. However, the only parts of these products that are natural are the dried plant materials. Chemical tests show that the active, mind-altering ingredients are cannabinoid compounds made in laboratories”.
Apart from being highly addictive, it is a Russian Roulette scenario to know what chemicals are used and if a synthetic opioid has been added to increase demand.
National Institute on Drug Abuse answers questions about synthetic marijuana.
Q: What is THC?
A: Tetrahydrocannabinol
Q: What is synthetic THC?
A: Spice/ K2, Synthetic Marijuana
Q: What is synthetic Marijuana?
A: A synthetic version of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, K2/Spice is a mixture of plant material sprayed with synthetic psychoactive chemicals. Can be sold in a liquid form, typically labeled “not for human consumption." It is dangerous to purchase from the Internet because its origins and chemical amounts are unknown.
The ingredients and strength of products containing synthetic cannabinoids are almost impossible for the user to know.
Q: How does it affect the body?
A: Paranoia, anxiety, panic attacks, hallucinations, and giddiness. Addiction. Increase in heart rate and blood pressure, convulsions, organ damage, or death.
Q: Are Synthetic cannabinoid products unsafe?
A: It is hard to know what the products contain or what one's reaction to them will be.
There are no standards for making, packaging, or selling synthetic cannabinoid chemicals. That means that two packets of a brand-named product may have completely different chemicals.
The amount of the synthetic cannabinoid chemical(s) can vary between batches
or even within the same batch.
Synthetic cannabinoid products may also be contaminated with other drugs or toxic chemicals.
The question I have is: “what’s next”?
As a parent of teenage children, I am equally forced to navigate the constant and ever-evolving world of “party drinks” and “recreational or party drugs” on a constant basis as they are offered, under false pretences, to our children. These represent a clear and present danger to our children’s lives, and our very communities, just so much as crime, and other social evils do.
As parents, we are effectively unarmed and unprepared to engage with our children in addressing these actively blatant, and paralysing threats to their well-being, and moreover, their very existence.
We should all be clear that we do not possess the liberty of hope and apathy. The mere hope that your child will not fall prey to these drugs and those who propagate the industry, is no longer sufficient. And we all need to become aware of the dangers that present to our children daily, in order for us to actively protect them.
There is a way of preventing active addiction, over and above ongoing education on addiction and affording hope by the simplest, yet forgotten means. These are real and viable alternatives for our children to cope with the pressures of life and others, without the need or human propensity to revert to societally acceptable crutches, and the normalisation of alcohol, narcotics, pornography, vaping, and more.
On the 12 of November 2022, I celebrated 40 years in remission from addiction. Always cognoscente thereof, I have found a way to cope with my addiction, by means of connection and communication. I speak without fear, shame, guilt, or judgment about my fears and anxieties, and also in gratitude and joy for what I have in my life today.
I employ the ’12 Step Program’ as prescribed by the "Alcoholics Anonymous", and "Narcotics Anonymous" fellowship groups. At Its simplest – it is a ‘one day at a time approach. Aided by means of connecting with like-minded people, with a common goal of remaining sober and free of active addiction.
The premise is essentially based upon surrendering, staying focused, and hard work –
“It works, if you work it, keep working it, because you are worth it.”
The world has made humans disconnect from true authenticity. We disconnect because it is too painful to be ourselves. The healing is reconnection and then communication.
The world in which we live and operate has caused human beings to deny and disconnect with simple truths and authenticity. We disconnect because it is too painful to be ourselves. The healing lies within reconnection and communication.
In compiling this brief overview of our program, we have been fortunate to enjoy the input and collaboration of fellow former addicts and knowledgeable and experienced educators. Our program is aimed at teaching children how to learn and communicate openly and honestly without shame, guilt, or fear. Enabling them to cope in a world that is pointedly destructive and aims to disenfranchise and disconnect them from society by means of gaming, social media, pornography, alcohol, smoking, vaping, and the widespread use of drugs – all of which are presented to them as harmless.
The program is based on the self-same principles which have not only kept me alive but allowed me to remain connected to society and remain relevant, and free from active addiction, which includes, but not, limited to:
1. Radical Authenticity
2. Surrender to the Outcome
3. Do Uncomfortable Work
This program has taught me how to cope with day-to-day life without the need for substance abuse, including drugs and alcohol, and given its global and proven track record of success in recovery from addiction for millions of people – this program is suitably well-positioned to aid children on their journey through life, assisting them and teaching them to cope with, and navigate these challenges, by means of connection and communication; and guided by the three basic principles above.
Our preferred method of progress is to educate and inform students, parents, and educators about the truth about the disease of addiction, how to recognise it and how to treat the disease of addiction.
Addiction is not a moral issue or a weakness of character or otherwise, it’s a chronic mental disease.
1) To renew and reinforce basic connections and communication channels between parents, students, and teachers.
2) Addiction education should be included in all school curriculums which include participation by parents, guardians, and teachers.
3) Create safe support groups for students to enable them to express how they are feeling and realise they are not alone.
We all need to combat the misunderstanding of addiction and the stigmas which surround it. Nor should we feel helpless in the face of the challenges that the world is throwing at us and our children on a daily basis and face the truth head-on.
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