By Doreen Mokgolo
Nompumelelo Masemola, a recovering addict, says many young people use drugs to handle stress at school and then become addicted to them.
The 23-year-old from Kwa-Thema in Ekurhuleni started using drugs in matric because a friend said they would give her energy and help her stay awake while studying.
Nompumelelo told Scrolla.Africa she started eating dagga muffins sold by another learner.
“I then moved to smoking dagga, and soon I was using drugs every day while studying. Not long after, we started using Cat (methcathinone).
“All I wanted was to pass my matric and make my family proud by going to university,” she said.
Although she got into university, Nompumelelo ended up homeless and addicted to drugs.
Her father was a drug dealer, so she had easy access to drugs.
She was admitted to a rehab centre in Kwa-Thema in December after a concerned resident found her sleeping inside a plastic drum.
“That was my turning point. This is a second chance for me to rewrite my story,” Nompumelelo said.
She says it’s easier to get drugs in school than on the streets.
“Learners or teachers sell drugs. No one searches learners or teachers, and police searches are rare.
“Many young addicts started using drugs in school. More needs to be done to protect learners from drugs,” she said.
Now recovering, Nompumelelo wants to study to become a teacher.
Pictured above: Nompumelelo Masemola.
Source: Doreen Mokgolo
