---
title: "Drugs don’t work — harrowing tales of addiction and long roads to recovery in South Africa"
description: "Peer pressure, gateway drugs, and the ‘glamorous’ appeal of chasing the euphoria — when you start taking drugs, you never think it's going to turn into dependence."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "STREET TALK"
author: "Street Talk"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/streettalk/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-09-22-drugs-dont-work-harrowing-tales-of-addiction-and-long-roads-to-recovery-in-south-africa/"
published: "2022-09-22T16:46:14"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 144
---

# Drugs don’t work — harrowing tales of addiction and long roads to recovery in South Africa

> Peer pressure, gateway drugs, and the ‘glamorous’ appeal of chasing the euphoria — when you start taking drugs, you never think it's going to turn into dependence.

By Street Talk · Published 22 September 2022, 18:46 SAST

## Content

The more you do it, the more you rely on the high for comfort, for courage, and for an escape. How do drug addictions happen? How do people ask for help? This group of recovering addicts share their stories.

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsr5j7ix7Fk)

This film was produced by Street Talk.

![Street Talk Logo](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/Street-Talk-Logo-1.jpg)

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Street Talk is a groundbreaking television series aired weekly on community television. From grassroots to the establishment, our engaging programmes expose the lived realities and uncensored views of ordinary South Africans.

Street Talk was launched in 2008 and is a non-profit organisation — visit us [www.streettalktv.com](http://www.streettalktv.com)

Disclaimer: Street Talk encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of participants who appear in the TV series - Street Talk, are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the producers. **DM**