Rehabilitation centres

Rehabilitation and treatment centres are a must for Fiji to deal with overdose, drug addiction and alcoholism.

I totally agree with Minister for Defence and National Security Inia Seruiratu on the issue.

We must also have Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) 12-step programmes and Narcotics Anonymous programmes in these rehabilitation treatment centres.

When people on drug or alcohol dry out for a couple of months from these treatment centres, the addiction and alcoholism is still in the body.

The craving is very powerful once you’re an addict.

When you release these drug addicts and alcoholics into the community they can relapse again into their addictions, so they must attend Alcoholic Anonymous meetings on a daily basis to stay clean from drugs and alcohol and free for the rest of their lives.

I have been sober for 30 years and still attend Alcoholic Anonymous meetings on a daily basis. I have gone back to my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I now consider myself a good member of society.

My son and grandchildren have accepted me back into their lives.

I should have been dead in 1988 but God, through Alcoholic Anonymous, and the 12step programme, saved my life.

I was in detoxification for two weeks going through withdrawals.

It took me a whole year sleeping through nightmares and I had dreams of rats eating my feet, I would wake up with cold sweats, shaking like a leaf.

Today, I am grateful to God, rehabilitation centres, Alcoholic and Narcotics Anonymous for saving my life. I can live again.