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Zoleka Mandela discloses chilling effects of cocaine addiction

Zoleka Mandela took a trip down memory lane reflecting on the consequences of being addicted to cocaine for ten years.

The high-profile personality shared a picture of herself that was taken in 2009‚ which she says was at the height of her addiction.

“I took this picture in 2009‚ heavy into my addiction to cocaine and alcohol. This was what I looked like on a good day‚ I thought I looked cute but I looked like the very hell I was causing my kids and my family.”

Also read: Zoleka Mandela starts chemo to tackle renewed cancer scare

Zoleka explained that addiction is often accompanied by a lack of hygiene‚ and she herself would go an entire weekend without showering or brushing her teeth.

She added that even though she barely ate‚ as much as she drank or snorted cocaine‚ she was overweight.

“Look how swollen my face is in this picture? Alcohol causes that puffiness‚ dehydrates the skin and body ... Not forgetting the effect 10yrs of cocaine use was doing‚ I used other drugs too but cocaine was my choice of drug.”

Zoleka’s physical appearance was not the only part of her life that the addiction affected.

“I just wanted to die ... I was depressed and suicidal and the only things that made me feel better about myself was men‚ sex‚ alcohol and drugs! I didn’t know it then but I know it now‚ getting help (rehabilitation) was the best thing I could have ever done for myself.”

Zoleka celebrates six years of being clean and sober next month.

I took this picture in 2009, heavy into my addiction to cocaine and alcohol. This was what I looked like on a good day, I thought I looked cute but I looked like the very Hell I was causing my kids and my family. Weekends felt like one day, an entire weekend without showering or brushing my teeth. In rehab they teach you about how a lack of hygiene always accompanies drug addiction as well as 2 important life skills - hygiene and nutrition, I was overweight but I barely ate as much as I drank or snorted cocaine. I had a phuza face. Look how swollen my face is in this picture? Alcohol causes that puffiness, dehydrates the skin and body ... Not forgetting the effect 10yrs of cocaine use was doing, I used other drugs too but cocaine was my choice of drug. I'd sleep with make up on and if I had to go somewhere, I'd reapply it ... I felt so ugly on the inside though. Most of the time, I just wanted to die ... I was depressed and suicidal and the only things that made me feel better about myself was men, sex, alcohol and drugs! I didn't know it then but I know it now, getting help (rehabilitation) was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. I never knew how to ask for help but I finally did it. Next month on the 11th of August, I will celebrate being 6yrs clean and sober! Sobriety saved my life ... #ZolekaMandelaFoundation #DangersOfDrugsAndAlcohol #DrugAndAlcoholAwareness #Sobriety #Addiction #NeverTooLateToRewriteYourLifeStory #NothingChangesUntilYouChange

 

 

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