In the kitchen of the drug rehabilitation middle in Lamu, Kenya, Musa Mohamed is stirring a pan full of chicken and herbs. Musa is a 43-yr-antique drug user. He is one among 18 addicts on the middle that is run by way of the Kenya Red Cross. He commenced using heroin 14 years ago after his buddies endorsed it to him.
“Then I stored on attempting and after multiple days I desired to stop, and I changed into addicted already so I wasn’t capable of forestall,” he stated.
A hassle affecting lots
Kenya’s National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) says there are forty,000 heroin users across the coastal location of Kenya. Many stays in Lamu, a metropolis with a massive wide variety of drug dens.
Red Cross volunteer Nurein Mohamed frequently visits the drug dens where she sees the desperation of many addicts.
Forty-three-yr-vintage Yusuf Yunus is aware that desperation. He desires to forestall using tablets.
“Now I have two children of mine who will get in problem,” he said. “I don’t understand what to do because I am high. I am now not healthy for them, and I don’t recognize a way to get money. I cannot help my kids after I am excessive.”
Medication, counseling needed
The rehabilitation center gives addicts a medicinal drug to reduce painful withdrawal signs. The center additionally calls for that addict attend group counseling.
Christine Mosiori is the supervisor of the Lamu center. She says excessive unemployment and easy availability of medicine are causing the drug hassle.
Unemployment “makes it smooth for a person to just get into the medicine…and also the supply of these drugs wherein they stay,” she stated.
The program run via the Red Cross takes 3 months and offers a few process schooling. Then, reformed drug users move returned to the streets.
Musa says he received’t cross back the use of pills.
“My first daughter is 14 years (antique) now…I don’t need to harm my daughter and my own family,” he stated. “So, I stated sufficient is enough, and I don’t assume I’ll pass again.”
Signs of progress
Despite the huge length of the drug problem, Moriori says she is pleased through what the Red Cross center has carried out in only six months.
“Even the ones we’ve discharged, we’ve accompanied them up to this point and they may be doing very well again domestic,” Moriori stated.
As the men kneel for Islamic prayers, they share the pain of trying to conquer addiction. They pray that sooner or later soon, they will regain control over themselves and their futures.
I’m Susan Shand.
VOA’s Ruud Elmendorp said this story. Susan Shand tailored it for Learning English. George Grow turned into the editor.
The equal is authentic of people of any age organization. Sometimes whilst going thru a mid life crisis many men and women need to strive new matters, some thing that they had never accomplished earlier than or have been denied when younger. The twentieth century has advanced the world at an ever-growing price. The speedy lifestyles, the hard competition to be the exceptional, high well known of living and the ever-growing expenses cause good deal anxiety, tension, and frustration. High instances of divorces and failed relationship are just some of the bad consequences of our rapid paced life. Unfortunately a few human beings find it tough to cope with those pressures in existence, and hotel to capsules to escape from failure and the duties of everyday existence.
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