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For 18 years, Rachael Wangari Wanini staggered drunkenly to her feet, unaware of how alcoholism and abuse of outlawed substances such as bhang would ruin her life.

Wangari, who used to operate a bar, says that sale and abuse of proscribed inhalants not only damaged her life but also that of her children who drew immoral lessons from her bad character.

She says that alcoholism not only caused poor health in her life but also brought disharmony in her family.

Speaking to journalists during a free reformed addicts’ medical camp organized by Hope Mission Foundation at Happy Church in Juja, Kiambu County, Wangari narrated a heart wrenching story of how insomnia, anxiety and shaking would become part of her life after she got addicted.

Alcohol addiction, she says fostered a cycle of emotional pain that even saw her abandon some of her children while others were adopted by her sisters and after years of progressively consuming the destructive substances, she became an addict and fell into depression.

She became helpless, a situation that sunk her more into the uptake of outlawed substances which almost shuttered her dreams of owning a notable business enterprise.

Prohibited alcohol

Despite working hard to sell all manner of legal and prohibited alcohol to drunkards’ day and night, Wangari says she has nothing to show for the hard work.

Instead, the business she once thought would unlock her infinite possibilities collapsed leaving her with nothing, a situation that made her a beggar and consumer of cheap liquor.

Through the help of her eldest son, Wangari’s life would however take another turn after she agreed to quit the business.

She would start a painful recovery journey that saw her start developing new coping strategies, trauma and shame hit her, she relapsed and struggled to find her purpose in life.

Wangari, who ventured into the business right after school, says that given the necessary support, women can pursue better routes that do not destroy their future.

She thereby called on the government to establish better systems to create job opportunities, ease access to higher education to save many youths who are resulting in abuse of drugs and alcohol due to lost directions.

“I currently make soaps as my hustle after I got the requisite training. I regret venturing into alcoholism as I lost touch with my children and regaining it has been a tough process. The future is however bright for me as I now understand myself better,” said Wangari.

Recovered addicts

Similar to her journey is that of Michael Ndichu, another recovered addict who used to consume all manner of drugs before he got enrolled in a rehabilitative initiative that has since restored his sobriety.

Ndichu, who had separated from his family, has since reunited with them and is optimistic about the future.

“Today I can stand like a man and unite my family, something I never dreamt off initially. My future, having recovered from alcoholism, is brighter and better,” he said.

According to Zipporah Kariuki, a representative of the Hope Mission Foundation, addicts should be shown love and care to feel part of the society.

Kariuki who has been supporting the recovery of many for a better society called on the government to enroll the recovered into technical training to gain key artisanry skills which she said will enable them start income generating activities.

“Our dream is to buy land somewhere where we can train them to venture into gainful employment. We are ready, save for lack of finances, to help as many pursue a better life that will also enable them to have stable and restored families,” said Kariuki.

Hosea Kariuki, a pastor at Happy Church called for urgent action in tackling the alcoholism issue to save generations.

Kariuki regretted that so many addicts are no longer productive and have disintegrated with their families and urged the government and other stakeholders to help them recover to become better nation builders.

“We are losing an entire generation to illicit liquor. Many have become zombies and we have a duty to restore their sobriety by accepting them and showing them the right way,” said Kariuki.