Pubdate: Sun, 05 Dec 2004
Source: Cyprus Mail, The (Cyprus)
Copyright: Cyprus Mail 2004
Contact:  http://www.cyprus-mail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/100
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

THE REAL ROOTS OF ADDICTION

Tackling the Growing Drug Issue in Cyprus

IN A SPEECH given to the ECAD (European Cities Against Drugs) early this 
year, Mr Doros Theodorou, Minister of Justice and Public Order, stated "we 
must seek the causes of drug abuse in the quality of family... it acts as 
one of the factors that can contribute to the abuse of drugs".

The easiest way to justify drug addiction is to find someone or something 
to blame.

In that way, the eradication of the problem is simple. Concentrate on 
creating solid family structures, through good education and investment in 
prevention schemes, and Cyprus will rid itself of its increasing drug problem.

If only it were so easy. The reality of drug abuse is much more complex and 
the cause much less tangible.

Based on the experience of my own and that of many others around me, it is 
clear that the cause for any form of addictive behaviour lies not in the 
external but in oneself.

This makes the search for the ultimate 'cure' much more difficult and 
explains the ever-increasing world drug problem.

Is it time for Cyprus to accept that we do have a drug problem and to stop 
throwing blame on broken families, drug dealers etc? Invest more in trying 
to treat those suffering rather than focusing solely on prevention? The 
demand for drugs is very much ripe in Cyprus and measures to appease it are 
very difficult, if not impossible. The only way to tackle our problem is 
through acceptance of it and investment in adequate treatment for those 
suffering.

My own experience with drug addiction highlights how external circumstances 
were not the cause of my drug abuse but something within myself.

Through the help of a treatment centre in the UK, I have today made a good 
recovery and a chance to rediscover myself.

The last two years of my life have been an eye-opener for me. At 25, I feel 
that I am very much a different person to the girl I was only a couple of 
years ago. What I experienced was not new but unfortunately something that 
every day more and more youngsters are getting themselves involved in. And 
yes in Cyprus too. Drugs have become an integral part of our life and are 
very much a problem on our island.

And I'm not talking only of cannabis, but also of heroin and, my drug of 
choice, cocaine.

When speaking of drug addicts I always had this image in my mind of people 
from broken families, uneducated, roughened criminals that corrupted our 
society. That was until I too became one. With this idea that all 'junkies' 
were the result of a poor upbringing, the outcome of a broken family, I had 
no excuse to become one myself.

I have two university degrees, four A levels and eight O levels.

Uneducated I'm not. My parents are not divorced and my father never beat me 
as a child.

So I can't blame them for my drug habit either.

Money I always had more than necessary and was never deprived of anything.

My point, I had everything and more. That is, everything except for one 
thing, self-esteem. My cocaine addiction was not the result of anything 
external but of something much deeper, more complicated. I abused cocaine, 
just as I abused my food, exercise and studying before.

It filled a 'gap', it made me feel good with myself and very confident.

It seemed to give me all that I was not.

In my teenage years, I became very thin, almost anorexic, and exercised 
three times daily, most often on an empty stomach.

A skinny body gave me all the self-esteem I lacked in my natural state.

In the same way, the need to excel in school and later at university also 
fed my self-esteem, it made me feel good with myself and not useless.

At twenty-two I snorted my first line of coke in the romantic setting of a 
club toilet.

I will never forget that day, that moment when all my inhibitions, 
insecurities vanished, and I felt I had finally found my key to eternal 
confidence, to my happiness. Endless dieting, hours on the treadmill, all 
seemed pointless and quickly disappeared from my life. I had found 
something much more effective, much less tiring, and what appeared at the 
time, a hell of a lot more fun. I had begun, what is often called my 
short-lived 'honeymoon' with coke.

All good things have an ending, the difference being with cocaine, it also 
had a price.

Two years later I passed through a treatment centre, as well as numerous 
experiences I hope to never have to relive again.

I am lucky that I have not lost too many friends and that my family are 
still by my side. I underwent a complete character change with cocaine, 
became unrecognisable to anyone who knew me well. Selfish, introvert and 
empty of any emotion.

My only concern was me, and how to feed my habit.

I don't wish to go into much detail of how I was and what I did, as some 
things are too painful. What I do wish to focus on is the here and now. 
Today I am clean and also 10kg heavier.

I am trying to rediscover myself and tackle the root of what seemed to be 
at the core of all my very extreme and irrational behaviour. Acceptance of 
who I am and not hate for all that I am not.
- ---