Thank you for the initiative you have taken for the awareness of drug abuse. We want to share our story with the hope that it can help others understand the devastating impact of addiction on families.
I am the only sister of two brothers. Two years ago, my elder brother got married and soon after, he couldn’t cope with us and left us with his wife. This departure deeply affected my younger brother, who had always been very attached to him. My younger brother, once full of jokes and always surrounded by family, began to withdraw. He preferred to stay alone in his room and started asking for more money for his daily needs. He locked his room whenever he went out and bolted it from inside when he was home. His academic performance suffered, and we noticed he had changed his circle of friends.
One day, he didn’t come downstairs. Concerned, I went to his room to check on him. The door was locked from the inside. Despite knocking, there was no response. We broke the door down and found him unconscious, with syringes scattered on his bedside table. We immediately rushed him to the hospital, where we discovered he was addicted to drugs and had overdosed.
This revelation devastated us. We stayed by his side and tried to support him, but his aggression and hostility during withdrawal were overwhelming. The doctors explained that his behavior was a symptom of withdrawal. We worked closely with medical professionals to support his rehabilitation, but the process took a severe toll on our family.
The stress and anxiety led my father to suffer a massive heart attack, requiring him to undergo stenting. My mother, overwhelmed by insomnia and depression, saw her diabetes worsen. As for me, this ordeal has affected my prospects for marriage, as people are reluctant to marry into a family with a history of drug addiction.
Despite these challenges, my brother has been off drugs for a couple of months now and is on the path to recovery. However, our story is not an isolated one. During our visits to hospitals, we met thousands of families who shared similar ordeals. The ripple effect of one person’s addiction can devastate entire families, causing emotional, physical, and social harm.
I am grateful for your campaign, as it sheds light on the harsh realities of drug abuse and the profound impact it has on families. By sharing our story, I hope to highlight the urgent need for support, understanding, and resources to help families cope with the challenges of addiction. Thank you again for your efforts.
S Bashir, Humhama